edited 


i'jir-.  |p(y§iLii^iiiissi' 


257._5tc1tG.5t: 


r' 


H 


TOMMY'S 


FIRST  SPEAKER 


LITTLE  BOYS  AND  GIRLS. 


EDITED  BY  TOMMY  HIMSELF. 


CHICAGO: 
W.  H.  HARRISON,  Jr.,  Publisheu. 

1886. 


EDUCATION  DEPT 

COPYKIGHT   HV 

W.  H.HARRISON,  Jh. 

^  ■      .  •  .  1885. 


CONTENTS. 


Angel  Court 

A  Bit  of  Pottery 

A  Babys  Fc-et  and  Hands 

A  I?  ly's  Dream 

A  Butierrty  on  Baby's  Grave 

A  C  )ncert  glvim  by  Mr.  Spring 

A  Lawy<'i's  Poem  to  Spring      . 

A  Lilile  Uov. 

A  Little  B  "y's  Lecture    . 

A  Little  Girl 

A  Little  Girl's  Q  lestions 

A  Manly,  Loving  Boy 

A  Mite  Song 

A  Thanksgiving  Ode 

A  Tribute  to  an  Old  Shoe 

All  Things  Love  Me 

An  E  istcr  Song 

An  O'd  Hen   . 

Baby 

B  by  Boy        . 

Baby  Louise 

li  il>y  Sister     . 

Ba'Ty  is  a  Sdlor 

B  ibya  Cradle  is  Green 

Biby's  Skies 

Bedlam  T«»wn 

Bessie  Bo  Peep 

B  aiitv  Everyvk^here 

Be  lutifiil  Things 

Bird  s  Nests 

Be  Kind  :  a  Quartette 

Be  Patient 

Bonnie  Lassies     . 


Page. 

66 

144 
97 

131) 
20 

159 
17 
85 
61 
84 

142 
93 

126 
74 

133 
21 
52 
93 
95 

1"6 
70 

141 
75 
58 
49 
47 
45 
19 

136 

123 
64 
89 
18 


m698?4 


CONTENTS. 


Boys  Wanted 

Bright  Little  Dandelion 

Cbris'mus  Comin' 

Cleanliness 

Couniry  CliiHren 

Dear  Lads  and  Lasses     . 

Dickie  Bird  !     Dickie  Bird  ! 

Did  Not  Pass 

Do  Good 

Do  Your  Best 

Doing  Nothing 

Eabter  Greeting 

Easter  Lilies 

English  History  in  Rhyme 

Eggs  and  Birds 

Every  Little  Helps 

Fannie's  Mud  Pies 

Fireflies 

Frowns  and  Sneers    . 

Funny,  Is'nt  It  ? 

G  tthermg  Flowers     . 

Give  the  Little  Boys  a  Chance 

God  Sees 

God  Made  All  Tilings 

God's  Mark  on  All  Things 

Gold 

Good  and  Bad  Children 

Good  Luck  and  Bad  Luck 

Good-Night 

Good -Night  Little  Scar 

Good-Night  and  Good-Morning 

Good  Queen  Bess 

Going  lo  Aunt  Ruth's  to  Tea 

Harry's  Logic 

Health  Alphabet 

Hobbledy  Hops 

Hoe  Your  Own  Row 

Home  and  Mother 

Hosanna 

Hundreds! 

How  to  Deal  with  New  Laid  Eg 

How  to  Gain  Friends 

How  the  Babies  Grow 

How  the  Dimples  Came 

I'd  Be— Wouldn't  You  ? 

I'm  Very  Young 

"I  Can't  "and  "I  Can" 

I'll  Put  it  Off       . 

It's  Good  lo  Have  a  Mother 

It  Raios 

Isn't  God  Upon  the  Ocean? 


CONTENTS. 


Katydid 

Kiudly  Words 

Kitty 

Laddy  Blue  Eyes 

Lady  Goldenrod 

Leaver  from  Fatherland 

Little  Bare  F.  e^ 

Little  Brown  Busby-Tail 

Little  Brown  Hands 

Little  Children    . 

Little  Foxes 

Little  Midget 

Little  Things 

Little  Tyrant 

Love  thy  Mother,  Little  One 

Loveliness 

Lullaby 

Mamma's  Boy 

Mamma's  Flower 

Mother's  Girl 

Mamma's  Kisses 

Mamie's  Request 

Miss  Fret  and  Miss  Laugh 

Morning 

Morning  Hymn 

Mothers,  Watch  the  Little  Feet 

My  Bed  is  a  Boat 

My  Boy    . 

My  Mother's  Hymn 

My  Sweetheart    . 

My  Week 

"Nol"     . 

Nobody's  Dog 

Nowhere 

Now    . 

Oh!  Bless  us! 

Old  Speckled  Hen     . 

On  Grandpapa's  Knee    , 

Only  a  Baby 

Only  Five 

Only  One 

One  by  One 

One  of  his  Names 

Our  Daisy 

Our  Jim 

"Papa  Can't  Find  Me" 

Planting  Himself  to  Grow 

Playing  Barl)er    , 

Prayer  for  Saturday  Night 

Redwing's  Song 

Remember 


CONTENTS. 


Rockaby 

Running  Away 

Santa  Clans 

Siloam's  Shady  Rill 

Six  Little  Words 

Six  Years  Old 

Skipping  . 

Sleep,  Baby,  Sleep! 

Snowed  Under     . 

Some  of  the  Children 

Song  of  Spring    . 

Speak  Gently 

Stop,  Slop,  Pretty  Water 

Sunbeams 

Take  Care 

Tale  of  a  Dog  and  a  Bee 

Ten  Little  Toes 

Ten  True  Friends 

The  Baby  Sleeps 

The  Bee  and  the  Butterfly     . 

The  Bee  and  the  Ro^e 

The  Best  Thing  in  the  World 

The  Boy  I  Love 

The  Boy  and  the  Boot 

The  Breezes 

The  Busy  Bee 

The  Busy  Mule     . 

The  Bumble  Bee 

The  Chickens      . 

The  Children 

The  Courageous  Bov 

The  Girl  Who  Couldn't  Eit  Crusis 

The  Green  Hill  Far  Away 

The  Groves     . 

The  Eagle 

The  Evening  Hymn 

The  Frost 

The  Lark 

The  Lament  of  a  Leftover  Doll 

The  Land  of  Counterpane    . 

The  Little  Cowslip 

The  Little  Dreamer 

The  Little  Peddlers 

The  Little  Things      . 

The  Long  Sermon 

The  Lost  Child 

The  Nine  Parts  of  Speech 

The  Minutes  . 

The  Old  Arm  Chair 

The  Old  House  at  Home 

The  Queen  in  Her  Carriage  Riding  By 


CONTENTS. 


The  Kemorseful  Cakes 

The  Rising,  Watching  Moon 

The  Robin  and  the  Chicken 

The  Sabbath 

The  Secret  of  the  Sunflower 

Tiie  Song  of  the  Corn-Popper 

The  Song  of  the  Sparrow 

The  Spider     . 

The  Tender  Shepherd    . 

The  Three  Best  Doctors 

The  Two  Squirrels 

The  Toad 

The  Wakeful  Birds 

The  Watennillion 

The  Wind 

The  Value  of  Little  Things 

The  Violet 

The  Yellow  Pocket 

Throwing  Kisses 

This  is  East,  and  this  is  West 

This  Life  is  what  we  Make  it 

Twelve  Golden  Rules  for  Boys 

To  Giown-up  Land 

To  Our  Baby 

Total  Annihilation 

Town  and  Country    . 

Try  .  .  . 

Twenty  Frogs  at  School 

Two  Kings 

Two  Little  Feet 

Two  Litilo  Magpies  sat  on  a  VV.ill 

Twinkle,  Twinkle 

Uses  of  I  he  Flowers 

Useful  Little  Words 

Upside  Down 

Up  and  Doing 

Waiting 

Washing  Dishes 

"We  all  like  Sheep 

We  shall  Know 

What  Boys  are  Good  For 

What  a  Little  Leaf  Said 

What  Does  Little  Birdie  Sav? 

What  is  Man? 

What  Mother  Says 

Wtiat  the  Daisy  Said    . 

Wxat  the  Snowdrop  Said 

What  the  Winds  Bring 

When  I  Am  Big 

When  Mamma  Was  a  Little  Girl 

Whip-Poor-Will 


Pagk. 


CONTENTS. 


Winter's  Snow 
Woman's  Day 
Work 

Work  and  Play 
Who  Is  It?    . 
Who  Made  Them  ? 
Ye  Ballad  of  Chri.^tmas 
Ye  Children,  be  Gay 
"Yours  Truly,  Sir". 
Youthful  Piety    . 


Page. 

58 
127 

^8 
88 
27 
96 
4M 
144 
lot 
82 


ANALYZED    INDEX. 


PIECES  SUITABLE  FOB  LITTLE  BOYS  TO  RECITE. 


Page. 

Page. 

A  Boy's  Dream    . 

.  139 

Nobody's  Dog 
Old  Speckled  Hen 

127 

A  Little  Boy     . 

85 

146 

A  Little  Boy's  Lecture 

.     61 

One  of  his  Names     . 

73 

A  Manly.  Loving  Boy 

93 

Our  Jim 

49 

An  Old  Hen      . 

.     93 

Planting  Himself  to  Grow 

92 

Baby  is  a  Sailor 
Bird's  Nests 

75 

Running  Away 

26 

.  123 

Six  Years  Old      . 

17 

Boys  Wanted   . 

21 

Some  of  the  Children 

88 

Did  Not  Pass 

.  110 

Tale  of  a  Dog  and  a  Bee 

125 

Do  Your  Best  . 

145 

The  Bee  and  the  Butterfly 

150 

Doing  Nothing     . 

.  145 

The  Bee  and  the  Ro-e  . 

68 

Eggs  and  Birds 

70 

The  Boy  and  the  Boot 

37 

Give    the    Little     Boys 

a 

The  Courageous  Boy    . 

57 

Chance 

126 

The  Little  Things     . 

42 

Gold     .... 

.     27 

The  Long  Sermon 

59 

(^od-Night  Little  Star 
mirry's  Logic 
I'm  Very  Young 

130 

The  Remorseful  Cakes     . 

35 

.  134 

The  Watermillion 

54 

155 

This    is   East,    and    this  is 

I'll  Put  it  Off        . 

.  156 

West 

103 

Laddy  Blue  Eyes      . 

18 

Twelve    Golden    Rules   for 

Little  Tyrant 

.     83 

Boys 

78 

Mamma's  Boy  . 

53 

Total  Annihilation   . 

98 

Mamma's  Kisses  . 

.  158 

Twenty  FroL-^s  at  School 

140 

Miss  Fret  and  Miss  Laugh 

I         62 

Two  Little  Magpies  Eat  on  a 

Morning 

.  137 

Wall 

128 

My  Mother's  Hymn . 

86 

What  Boys  are  Good  For 

81 

My  Sweetheart     . 

.     23 

When  I  am  Big    . 

104 

PIECES  SUITABLE  FOR  LITTLE  GIRLS  TO  RECITE. 


Page. 
A  Baby's  Feet  and  Hands  .  97 
A  Butterfly  on  Baby's  Grave  20 
A  Little  Girl  ...  84 
A  Little  Girl's  Questions  .       142 


Page. 

A  Mite  Song 

All  Things  Love  Me 

.  126 

21 

Baby     .... 

.     95 

Baby  Boy 

.       106 

10 


ANALYZED    INDEX. 


Page. 
Baby  Sister  .  .  .  .141 
Baby's  Cradle  is  Green  .  58 
Baby's  Skies  ...  49 
Bes«^ii;  Bo  Peep  .  .  45 
Be  Pa' lent  .  .  .  .89 
Dickie  Bird  !  Dickie  Bird  !  31 
Fannit-'s  Mud  Pies  .  .  77 
Gatiierini;  Flowers  .  .  135 
Good-Night  ...  112 
Good-Night  and  Good-Morn- 
ing      122 

How  to  Deal  with  New  Laid 

Eggs  ....  148 
How  the  Bibies  G'ow  .  .  15 
How  the  Dimples  Came  .  33 
It  BaiQS  .  .  .  .138 
Kitty  ....  24 
Lady  Goldenrod  .  .  .111 
Litrle  Bare  Feet  .  .  158 
Little  MidL-^et  ...  23 
Mamma's  Flower  .  .  50 
Mother's  Girl  ...  38 
Mamie's  Request  .  .  87 
My  Bed  is  a  Boat        .        .     40 


Page. 
My  Week  .  .  .  143 
On  Grand'^apa's  Knee  .  .  34 
Only  a  Baby  .  .  .  156 
Only  Five  .  .  .  .38 
Our  Daisy  ...  24 
"  Papa  Cin't  Find  Me  "  .  32 
Playing  Baiber  .  .  28 
Skipping       .        .  .131 

Sleep,  Baby,  Sleep!  .  .  33 
Ten  Little  Toes  ...  42 
Ten  True  Friends  .  .  55 
The  Baby  Sleeps  .  .  .  108 
The  Gi'l  Who  Couldn't  E  it 

Crusts  ....  142 
Two  Little  F«'et  .  .  .57 
The  Losi  Chilli  .       100 

The  Queen  in  Her  Carriage 

Riding  By  .  .  .124 
To  Our  Baby  .  .  .  4G 
Twinkle,  Twinkle  .  .  (U 
Washing  Dishes      .         .  138 

When  Mamma  Was  a  Little 

Girl 67 

"Yours Truly,  Sir".        .       115 


MISCELLANEOUS  PIECES  SUITABLE  FOR  EITHER  BOYS 
OR  GIRLS. 


Page. 

Page 

Angel  Court 

.       66 

Country  Children 

128 

A  Bit  of  Pottery      . 

.  144 

Dear  Lads  and  Lasses 

116 

A  Concert  given  by  Mr.  Spn 

ng  159 

Do  Good 

.     82 

A  Tjawyer's  Poem  to  Sprin 

g      17 

Easter  Greeting 

136 

A  Thanksgiving  Ode 

.     74 

Easter  Lilies 

.  106 

A  Tribute  lo  an  Old  Shoe 

133 

English  History  in  Rhyme 

39 

An  Enster  Song      . 

52 

Every  Little  Helps 

98 

B.iby  Louise 

.     70 

Fireflies     .... 

.  103 

Bedlam  Town 

47 

Frowns  and  Sneers    . 

84 

B'^autv  Everywhere 

.     19 

Funny,  Isn't  It  ?     . 

.     91 

BeauHf  nl  Things 

136 

God  Sees 

70 

Be  Kind  :  a  Quartette    . 

.     64 

God  Made  All  Things    . 
God's  Mark  on  All  Things 

.  130 

Bonnie  Lassies 

18 

16 

Bright  Little  Dandelion 

.  113 

Good  and  Bad  <"'hildren 

.     43 

Chris'mus  Comin' 

91 

Good  Luck  and  Bad  Luck 

55 

Cleanliness 

.  155 

Good  Queen  Bess 

.     56 

ANALYZED    INDEX. 


11 


Page. 
Going  to  Aunt  Ruth's  to  Tea  51 
Health  Alphabet  ...  94 
HobbledyHops  .        96 

Hoe  Your  Own  Row  .  .  76 
Home  and  Mother  .  .  99 
Hosanna  .  .  .  .63 
How  to  Gain  Fritnds  .  69 
Hundreds!        .        .  .37 

I'd  Be— Wouldn't  You?  .  115 
"  I  Can't "  and  "  1  Can  "  .  15 
It's  Good  to  Have  a  Mother  71 
Isn't  God  Upon  the  Ocean?  62 
Katydid  ...     71 

Kindly  Words         .  117 

Leaves  from  Fatherland  .  31 
Little  Brown  Bushy-Tail  121 
Little  Brown  Hands  .  .107 
Little  Children        .  104 

Little  Foxes  .  .  .147 
Little  Things  .         .        135 

Love  thy  Mother,  Little  One  123 
Loveliness  ....  120 
Lullaby  ....  51 
Morning  Hymn  .     78 

Mothers,   Watch    the  Little 

Feet  ....  154 
My  Boy  ...  .  105 
"No!"  ....  41 
Nowhere  .  .  .  .101 
Now  ....  90 
Oh!  Bless  Us  .  .  .63 
Only  One  ...  109 
One  by  One  .        .        .149 

Prayer  for  Saturday  Night  116 
Redwing's  Song  .  .  .36 
Remember  ...  53 
Rockaby    .  ...     59 

Santa  Claus  ...  55 
Siloam's  Shady  Rill  .  .  79 
Six  Little  Words  .  .  152 
Snowed  Under  .  .  .87 
Song  of  Spring  .  .  80 
Speak  Gently  .  .  .140 
Stop,  Stop,  Pretty  Water  102 
Sunbeams  .  .  .  148 
Take  Care  ....  94 
The  Best  Thing  in  the  World  79 
The  Boy  I  Love  .  .  .75 
The  Breezes  .  .  .  139 
The  Busy  Bee  .  .  .141 
The  Busy  Mule        .        .         90 


Page. 
The  Bumble  Bees  .  .  97 
The  Chickens  .        .  16 

The  Children  ...  30 
The  Green  Hill  Far  Away  C5 
The  Groves  ...  40 
The  Eagle  .  .  .  .39 
The  Evening  Hymn  .  102 
The  Frost      .  .        .30 

The  Laik  .  124 

The  Lament  of  a  Left-over 

Doll  ....  119 
The  Land  rf  Counterpane  .  114 
The  Little  Cowslip  .  "     160 

The  Little  Dn  amer  .  157 

The  Little  Peddlers  .  20 

The  Nine  Parts  of  Speech  .  60 
The  Minutes    .  149 

The  Old  Arm  Chair  .  .  68 
The  Old  House  at  Home  108 
The  Risinir,  Waichine  Moon  157 
The  Robins  and  the  Chickens  32 
The  Sabbath  .  .  .117 
The  Secret  of  the  Sunflower  99 
The  Song  of  the  Corn  Popper  29 
The  Song  of  the  Sparrow  44 

The  Spider        .        .  .156 

The  Tender  Shepherd  .  81 
The  Three  Best  Doctors  .  152 
The  Two  Squirrels  .  .  22 
The  Toad  .  .  .  .151 
The  Wakeful  Birds  .       150 

The  Wind  .  .  .  .114 
The  Value  of  Little  Things  43 
The  Vi.  let  ...     83 

The  Yellow  Pocket  .        56 

This  Life  is  What  We  Make 

It  ....  132 

Throwing  Kisses  .  .  160 
To  Grown -Up  Land  .  .  113 
Town  and  Country  .        .         19 

Try 131 

Two  Kings       .  .       118 

Uses  of  the  Flowers  .  .  69 
Useful  Little  Words  118 

Upside  Down  .  .  .74 
Up  and  Doing  .        .       143 

Waiting  .  .  .  .109 
"We  All  Like  Sheep"  .  34 
We  Shall  Know  ...  67 
What  a  Little  Leaf  Said  .  132 
What  Does  Little  Birdie  Say?  122 


12                                            ANALYZED    INDEX. 

Page. 

Page 

What  is  Man?          .         .       100 

Work        .        .        .        . 

28 

What  Mother  8a.ys       .         .     25 

Work  and  Play     . 

.     8H 

What  the  Daisy  ^aid                 60 

Wlioislt?        . 

27 

What  the  Snr)w-Drop  Said  .     41 

Who  Ma(ie  Them? 

.     96 

What  the  Winds  Bring  .        153 

Ye  Ballade  of  Chrietmas  . 

48 

Wliip-Poor-Will           .         .  129 

Ye  Children,  be  Gay     . 

.  144 

Winter's  Snows        .        .         58 

Youthful  Piety 

82 

Woman's  Day       .        .        .127 

PR  B FACE. 


To  THE  Young  Children  of  America: 

Dear  Boys  and  Girls, — It  is  many  and  many  a  year  ago  since  I  was 
born,  in  a  little  kingdom  far  over  the  sea.  In  that  little  kingdom  so 
far  away,  and  in  those  days  so  long  ago,  boys  and  girls  had  not 
privileges  and  opportunities  such  as  you  enjoy.  There  were  no 
common  schools,  no  first,  second  and  third  readers;  and  hundreds 
and  thousands  of  boys  and  girls  had  to  go  to  work  when  they  ought 
to  have  been  at  school.  When  I  was  eleven  years  old  I  went  to  work, 
and  worked  from  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning  to  seven  o'clock  in  the 
evening  for  sixty  cents  a  week.  And  in  those  days  books  were  very 
scarce  indeed.  You  could  not  have  bought  such  a  book  as  "Chatter- 
box" for  a  thousand  dollars,  when  I  was  a  boy,  because  there  were 
no  such  books  made  for  children.  Most  of  the  boys  and  girls  of 
that  little  kingdom  grew  up  without  any  education  except  such  as  was 
given  them  at  the  Sunday  school.  Very  few,  indeed,  could  read  or 
write  well.  But  God  was  good  to  me,  and  gave  me  a  mother  who  was 
as  wise  as  she  was  ^ood  and  beautiful.  One  of  her  greatest  desires 
was  that  her  boys  should  have  cultivated  minds  and  generous  hearts. 
And  so,  blessed  with  more  than  common  mental  ability,  she  became 
the  teacher  of  her  children.  My  earliest  recollections  are  of  sitting  by 
the  fire,  reading  the  New  Testament  to  my  mother  while  she  was  busy 
about  her  household  cares.  I  keep  that  old  copy  of  the  Gospels,  and 
though  it  is  worn  and  thumbed,  and  covered  with  rough  brown  paper, 
I  regard  it  as  one  of  my  most  sacred  treasures. 

Well,  as  time  went  on  I  became  very  fond  of  reading,  and  then  of 
reciting,  and  soon  I  was  sent  for  by  friends  and  neighbors  to  speak 
some  little  piece  at  weddings  and  merry-makings.     I  was  generally 

13 


14  PREFACE. 

placed  upon  a  chair,  and  sometimes  I  stood  upon  the  table,  and  mak- 
ing a  bow  to  my  audience,  would  say:  "  I'm  half  a  rogue  and  half  a 
rascal,  my  name  is  Tommy,  and  if  you  will  listen  to  me  I  shall  be 
glad."  Then  I  would  speak  my  piece  ;  and  from  that  day  to  this, 
though  my  hair  has  grown  gray,  1  have  always  found  great  delight  in 
reciting,  and  especially  to  young  people.  But  where  to  get  suitable 
pieces  has  always  been  a  difficulty.  I  have  often  walked  miles  when 
a  boy,  for  some  little  poem,  and  many  hours  have  I  spent  rumaging 
through  old  books  and  magazines,  from  which  I  copied  hundreds  of  little 
recitations.  Whenever  my  friends  found  a  suitable  piece  they  would  be 
sure  to  copy  it  and  send  it  to  "  Tommy."  So  in  the  course  of  years  I 
gathered  many  hundreds  of  poems  and  stories  and  sketches.  Not  long 
ago  Mr.  Harrison,  the  enterprising  publisher,  of  Chicago,  came  to  me 
and  said  he  wanted  a  "  Speaker  "  for  very  young  children,  so  I  set  to 
work  and  went  all  through  my  large  store  of  library  treasures,  and 
found  so  many  good  things,  that  I  concluded  it  was  best  to  make  two 
Speakers,  this  one  first,  for  very  young  children,  composed  almost 
entirely  of  little  poems.  The  pieces  in  this  First  Speaker  are  simple, 
serious,  quaint  and  pleasant ;  and  all  so  short,  that  very  little  children 
may  easily  learn  them  with  a  little  perseverence.  I  have  arranged 
the  index,  beginning  on  page  9,  so  that  you  can  easily  find  a  piece 
specially  suitable  for  a  little  boy  or  little  girl.  My  Second  Speaker 
contains  speeches  and  sketches,  as  well  as  poems  suitable  for  children 
a  little  older.  Here  there  are  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  little 
pieces  that  I  am  sure  will  be  found  both  charming  and  instructive. 
I  advise  you  to  learn  what  you  learn  thoroughly  before  you  try  to 
recite.  And  I  only  hope,  dear  boys  and  girls,  you  will  have  as  much 
pleasure  in  studying  this  book  and  speaking  these  pieces  as  I  have 
had  in  preparing  it  for  you. 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

TOMMY. 


TOMMY^S  FIRST  SPEAKER. 


HOW   THE    BABIES   GROW. 

Baby  wee,  baby  wee! 
What  does  little  baby  see  ? 
All  among  her  pillows  lying, 
Never  fretful,  never  crying  ; 

Caper  and  crow,  caper  and  crow  ! 

That's  the  way  that  babies  grow ! 

Baby  fair,  baby  fair ! 
Rosy  cheeks  and  curly  hair, 
All  among  her  pillows  playing, 
Little  chubby  hands  displaying; 

Caper  and  crow,  caper  and  crow  ! 

That's  the  way  that  babies  grow  ! 

Jennie  Carroll. 


"I  CANT"  AND  'I  CAN." 

"  I  Can't  "  is  a  sluggard,  too  lazy  to  work  ; 
From  duty  he  shrinks,  every  task  he  will  shirk  ; 
No  bread  on  his  board,  and  no  meal  in  his  bag. 
His  house  is  a  ruin,  his  coat  is  a  rag. 

"  I  Can  "  is  a  worker;  he  tills  the  broad  fields, 
And  digs  from  the  earth  all  the  wealth  that  it  yields; 
The'hum  of  his  spindles  begins  with  the  light. 
And  the  fires  of  his  forges  are  blazing  all  night. 

William  Allen  Butler, 

15 


16  toiMmy's  first  speaker. 


THE    CHICKENS. 

Said  the  first  little  chicken, 
With.  a. qut^er  little  squirm, 
"  1  ^\\4sh  kcoAild  find 
^A^fat  little  worm." 

'  S*a'id 'tfi^  ti^xt  little  chicken. 
With  on  odd  little  shrug, 

"  I  wish  I  could  find 
A  fat  little  slug." 

Said  the  third  little  chicken, 
With  a  sharp  little  squeal, 
"  I  wish  I  could  find 

Some  nice  yellow  meal." 

Said  the  fourth  little  chicken, 
With  a  small  sigh  of  grief, 
*'  I  wish  I  could  find 
A  little  green  leaf." 

Said  the  fifth  little  chicken. 
With  a  faint  little  moan, 
"  I  wish  1  could  find 
A  wee  gravel  stone." 

■'  Now,  see  here,"  said  the  mother. 
From  the  green  garden  patch, 

"  If  you  want  any  breakfast, 
Just  come  here  and  scratch." 


GOD'S  MARK  ON  ALL  THINGS. 

There's  not  a  leaf  within  the  bower, 
There's  not  a  bird  upon  the  tree, 

There's  not  a  dew-drop  on  the  flower, 
But  bears  the  impress,  Lord,  of  Thee. 

Mrs.  Amelia  Opie. 


TOMMY  S    FIRST    SI'EAKKR. 

A  LAWYER'S  POEM  TO  SPRING. 

Whereas,  on  certain  boughs  and  sprays 
Now  divers  birds  are  heard  to  sing, 

And  sundry  flowers  their  heads  upraise,— 
Hail  to  the  coming  on  of  Spring! 

The  songs  of  those  said  birds  arouse 
The  memory  of  our  youthful  hours. 

As  green  as  thi^se  said  sprays  and  boughs, 
As  fresh  and  sweet  as  those  said  flowers. 

The  birds  aforesaid — happy  pairs — 

Love,  'mid  the  aforesaid  boughs,  enshrines 

In  freehold  nests;  themselves,  their  heirs, 
Administrators  and  assigns. 

O,  busiest  term  of  Cupid's  court, 

Where  tender  plaintiffs  actions  bring. 

Season  of  frolic  and  of  sport, 

Hail,  as  aforesaid,  coming  Spring! 

Henry  Howard  Brownell. 


SIX  YEARS  OLD. 

When  Joe,  and  Kate,  and  Dick,  and  Bell, 

Started  to  school  last  fall, 
I  cried  to  go,  and  papa  said 

He  thought  I  was  too  small. 

I  begged  so  hard,  at  last  he  said, 

"  Well,  you  can  go  to-day; 
For  after  this,  I'm  very  sure, 

At  home,  you'll  want  to  stay." 

But  I'm  not  tired  yet,  and  you 
Can  judge  now  by  my  looks. 

That  though  I  am  but  six  years  old, 
I  like  my  school  and  books. 


18  tommy's    first    SPEAKERo 


BONNIE    LASSES. 

Just  fail-  enough  to  be  pretty, 
Just  gentle  enough  to  be  sweet, 

Just  saucy  enough  to  be  witty, 
Just  dainty  enough  to  be  neat. 

Just  tall  enough  to  be  graceful, 
Just  slight  enough  for  a  fay, 

Just  dress  enough  to  be  tasteful. 
Just  merry  enough  to  be  gay. 

Just  meek  enough  for  submission, 
Just  bold  enough  to  be  brave. 

Just  pride  enough  for  ambition, 

Just  thoughtful  enough  to  be  grave. 

Generous  enough,  and  kind-hearted, 

Pure  as  the  angels  above  ; 
From  them  may  we  never  be  parted, 

For  these  are  the  lasses  we  love. 


LADDY  BLUE    EYES. 

What  makes  your  eyes  so  blue,  laddy  ? 

What  makes  your  eyes  so  blue  ? 
Have  the  violets  been  whispering 

Their  secrets,  dear^  to  you  ? 

I  think  the  summer  pansies 

Gave  you  their  charms  to  keep  ; 

Perhaps  the  bluebells  kissed  your  eyes 
When  they  were  fast  asleep. 

Or,  maybe,  ah  !  no'^^  i  have  guessed  it, 

I  thought  I  could  if  I'd  try, 
You  got  those  bits  of  heaven's  blue 

When  you  came  down  from  the  sky. 

Minna  Caroline  Sm^th. 


tommy's  first  speaker.  19 


TOWN  AND   COUNTRY. 

"I'm  just  now  in  the  country  for  a  stay," 
Said  he  (a  little  town  bird) 
To  her  (a  litttle  brown  bird), 
In  the  course  of  a  conversation  one  fine  day. 

"I  think  a  country  life  is  very  slow; 
There's  really  no  variety; 
You  never  see  society, — 
You  might  as  well  be  buried,  don't  you  know. 

"In  town  there  are  so  many  things  to  do; 
You  cut  a  thousand  capers, 
You  see  the  daily  papers, — 
I  think  I'd  live  in  town  if  I  were  you." 

Said  she,  "  I  do  not  envy  you  town  life; 

The  village  children  love  me. 

The  blue  sky  is  above  me, 
And  every  day  is  free  from  care  and  stiife; 
I  think,"  said  she,  "  it  is  a  thousand  pities, 
That  little  birds  should  live  in  great  big  cities.' 


BEAUTY  EVERYWHERE. 

There  is  beauty  in  the  forest. 

When  the  trees  are  green  and  fair  ; 
There  is  beauty  in  the  meadow. 

Where  wild  flowers  scent  the  air  ; 
There  is  beauty  in  the  sunlight. 

And  the  soft,  blue  sky  above  : 
Oh,  the  world  is  full  of  beauty 

When  the  heart  is  full  of  love! 

W.  L.  Smith. 


20  tommy's  first  speaker. 


THE  LITTLE  PEDDLERS. 

[In  reciting  this  piece  the  little  speaker  should  have  a  small  basket  with  rib- 
bons, laces,  toys,  etc.,  and  should  be  surrounded  by  three  or  four  young  compan- 
ions carrying  similar  baskets.] 

We're  playing  we  are  peddlers, 

And  we're  going  up  and  dowp, 
Just  as  they  do  to  sell  their  goods 

To  people  in  the  town. 
We  each  one  have  a  basket, 

To  carry  on  our  backs; 
We've  filled  them  full  of  ev'rything, 

And  play  they  are  our  packs. 

Now,  won't  you  buy  an  elephant, 

'Tis  not  so  very  big  ? 
Or  would  you  like  a  curly  dog. 

Or  funny  china  pig? 
Then  we  can  show  you  ribbons. 

Some  apples  and  some  cake; 
We'll  be  delighted  to  supply 

Whatever  choice  you  make. 

MiLLicENT    Moor. 


A  BUTTERFLY  ON  BABY'S  GRAVE. 

A  butterfly  basked  on  a  baby's  grave, 

Where  a  lily  had  chanced  to  grow  ; 
"  Why  art  thou  here  with  thy  gaudy  dye, 

vVhen  she  of  the  blue  and  sparkling  eye 
Must  sleep  in  the  churchyard  low?" 

Then  it  lightly  soared  through  the  sunny  air, 
And  spoke  from  its  shining  track  : 
"  I  was  a  worm  till  I  won  my  wings. 
And  she  whom  thou  mourn'st  like  a  seraph  sings  ; 

Would'st  thou  call  the  blessed  one  back  ? " 


tommy's  first  speake:  21 


BOYS  WANTED 

Boys  of  spirit,  boys  of  will, 

Boys  "of  muscle,  brain  and  power, 

Fit  to  cope  with  anything, — 
These  are  wanted  every  hour. 

Not  the  weak  and  whining  drones. 
Who  all  troubles  magnif}'; 

Not  the  watchword  of  "  I  can't," 
But  the  nobler  one,  "I'll  try." 

Do  whate'er  you  have  to  do 

Witli  a  true  and  earnest  zeal; 
Bend  your  sinews  to  the  task, 
*'Put  your  shoulder  to  the  wheel." 

Though  your  duty  may  be  hard, 

Look  not  on  it  as  an  ill; 
If  it  be  an  honest  task, 

Do  it  with  an  honest  will. 

In  the  workshop,  on  the  farm. 
At  the  desk,  where'er  you  be. 

From  your  future  efforts,  boys. 
Comes  a  nation's  destiny. 


ALL  THINGS  LOVE  ME. 

O  little  flowers  !  you  love  me  so. 

You  could  not  do  without  me  ; 
O  little  birds  that  come  and  go  ! 

You  sing  sweet  songs  about  me  ; 
O  little  moss,  observed  by  few. 

That  round  the  tree  is  creeping  ! 
You  like  my  head  to  rest  on  you, 

When  I  am  idly  sleeping. 


22  tommy's  first  speake 


THE  TWO  SQUIRRELS. 

There  were  two  squirrels 
That  lived  in  a  wood; 

The  one  was  naughty, 
The  other  was  good. 


The  naughty  one's  name  was  Dandy  Jim; 

His  mother  was  very  fond  of  him. 

The  good  one's  name  was  Johnny  Black; 

He  had  beautiful  fur  upon  his  back, 

And  he  never  went  near  the  railroad  track. 


But  Dandy  Jim, 

Alas  for  him! 

He  ran  away 

One  summer  day, 

Over  the  hills  and  far  away; 
And  his  mother  sought  for  him  far  and  near. 
But  never  a  word  of  Jim  could  she  hear. 

He  never  came  back; 

For,  crossing  the  track, 

The  railroad  cars  ran  over  him. 

And  that  was  the  end  of  Dandy  Jim. 


But  Johnny  Black, 
He  always  came  back. 
Whenever  he  went  from  his  home  away; 
He  thought  at  home  was  the  place  to  stay. 
He  minded  his  mother, 

Where'er  he  might  be; 
He  thought  that  his  mother 
Knew  better  than  he. 


23 


MY  SWEETHEART. 

"  Now,  mamma,  if  only  you'll  promise  me  true 
That  you  never  will  tell,  I  will  show  it  to  you — 
This  beautiful  picture — and  then  you  will  see 
How  lovely  the  face  of  my  sweetheart  must  be. 
Her  cheeks  they  are  rosy,  her  eyes  they  are  bright, 
Her  hair  always  shines  when  it  catches  the  light, 
Her  voice  is  so  soft  when  she  speaks  with  a  smile, 
I  know  she  is  loving  me  well  all  the  while. 
And  when  I  am  hurt — and — w^ell — cry  (for  you  see, 
They  have  to  sometimes,  even  big  boys  like  me). 
She  puts  her  arms  round  me  and  comforts  me  so, 
I'm  sure  to  forget  it  the  first  thing  I  know. 
She  sings  about  sunshine  and  fairies  and  flowers. 
And  the  stories  she  tells — you  could  listen  for  hours. 

"Who  is  she?    Well,  tell  me,  what  name  do  you  guess? 
When  you  get  to  the  sweetest  of  all  I'll  say  yes, — 
No,  no, — you  are  wrong.     I  must  give  you  a  peep; 
But  you'll  surely  remember  the  secret  to  keep 
And  never  let  out  who  is  fondest  of  me  ? 
Ho,  ho,  mamma,  look  in  this  glass  and  you'll  see  ! " 

Sydney  Dayre. 


LITTLE  MIDGET. 

My  papa  sometimes  scolds  and  says, 

I'm  always  in  a  fidget  ; 
But  mamma  says,  I  keep  quite  still 

For  such  a  little  midget. 

My  teacher  said  to-day,  she  thought 

That  it  was  very  smart 
For  such  a  little  thing  as  I 

To  learn  a  speech  "  by  heart." 


24:  tommy's  first  rpeakek 


OUR  DAISY. 


Our  little  Daisy  is  rosy  and  sweet, 

Neat  as  a  pin  from  her  head  to  her  feet; 

Her  long  waving  ringlets  are  yellow  as  gold, 

And  her  bonnie  brown  eyes  they  are  bright  to  behold. 

All  the  day  through  it  makes  one  rejoice 

To  hear  the  soft  tones  of  her  sweet,  laughing  voice; 

vSummer  or  winter,  sunshine  or  rain. 

No  one  hears  Daisy  fret  or  complain. 


run, 


Up  stairs  and  down,  nimble  with  fun, 

Two  little  slippered  feet  scamper  and 

While  two  little  hands  as  nimble  as  they 

Make  themselves  busy  with  work  and  vvilh  play. 

Every  one's  errands  they're  ready  to  do — 

Find  mamma's  needle,  button  her  shoe; 

Set  papa's  slippers  down  by  the  fire; 

Build  baby's  block-house  two  stories  higher. 


KITTY. 


[If  the  little  girl  who  speaks  this  piece  has  a  littTe  whke  kitten  fn  her  hands  ft 
will  add  much  to  the  effect.] 

Kitty,  my  pretty,  white  kitty. 
Why  do  you  scamper  away  ? 
I've  finished  my  work  and  my  lesson. 
And  now  I  am  ready  for  play. 

Come,  kitty,  my  own  little  kitty, 
I've  saved  you  some  milk,  come  and  see ; 
Now  drink  while  I  put  on  my  bonnet, 
And  play  in  the  garden  with  me. 


tommy's  ftr<^t  speaker.  25 


WHAT  MOTHER  SAYS. 

Yes,  I  know  there  are  stains  on  my  carpet, 
The  traces  of  small  muddy  boots, 

And  I  see  your  fair  tapestry  glowing. 
And  spotless  with  blossoms  and  fruits  ! 

And  I  know  that  my  walls  are  disfigured 
With  prints  of  small  fingers  and  hands, 

And  that  your  own  household  most  truly 
In  immaculate  purity  stands. 

And  I  know  that  my  parlor  is  littered 
With  many  old  treasures  and  toys. 

While  your  own  is  in  daintiest  order. 
Unharmed  by  the  presence  of  boys! 

I  know  that  my  room  is  invaded 
Quite  boldly  all  hours  of  the  day. 

While  you  sit  in  yours  unmolested. 
And  dream  the  soft  quiet  away! 

Yes,  I  know  there  are  four  little  bedsides 
Where  I  must  stand  watchful  each  niirht, 

While  you  go  out  in  your  carriage, 
And  flash  in  your  dresses  so  bright. 

Now,  I  tliink  I'm  a  neat  little  woman  ; 

I  like  my  house  orderly,  too  ; 
And  I'm  fond  of  all  dainty  belongings  ; 

Yet  would  not  change  places  with  you  ! 

No!  keep  your  fair  home  with  its  order, 
Its  freedom  from  bother  and  noise. 

And  keep  your  own  fanciful  leisure, 
But  give  me  my  four  splendid  boys  ! 


26  tommy's  first  reader. 


RUNNING  AWAY. 

The  sky  was  clear,  the  stars  were  bright, 
The  grass  was  wet  with  dew, 

When  Johnny  rose,  put  on  his  clothes, 
And  vowed  what  he  would  do. 

"  I'll  leave  my  pa,  I'll  leave  my  ma  ; 
I'll  go  from  here  to  stay  ; 
My  parents  both  have  been  unkind, 
And  so  I'll  run  away. 

"  I'll  take  my  clothes,  I'll  take  my  all, 
A  slave  I  will  not  be  ; 
I'll  go  out  west,  and  do  my  best — 
I'll  strike  for  liberty!  " 

And  Johnny  started  bravely  out, 

And  said  he'd  ne'er  return  ; 
He  said  he'd  go  where  he  could  live 

And  let  his  genius  burn. 

He  traveled  all  that  summer  night. 
And  bravely  through  the  day  ; 

And  then  he  said  :  ''  I  wish  that  I 
Had  never  run  away. 

"  I'm  tired  and  weak — I'm  sick,"  said  he, 

With  sadness  in  his  tone  ; 
"  It  isn't  best  to  go  out  west — 

At  least  to  go  alone. 


ONLY  FIVE. 


I  am  a  very  little  girl, 

I'm  only  five  years  old  ; 
I  hope  that  none  who  hear  me  speak 

Will  think  I  am  too  bold. 


TOMMYS    FIRST    SPEAKER.  27 


WHO  IS  IT? 

[At  the  close  of  this  recitation  some  elderly  person  attired  as  Santa  Chius 
should  enter  and  distribute  gifts  to  the  children.] 

Now,  children,  there's  somebody  coming, 

So  try  to  think  sharply  and  well  ; 
And,  when  I  get  through  with  my  story, 

Just  see  if  his  name  you  can  tell. 

His  hair  is  as  white  as  a  snow-drift  ; 

But  tlien  he  is  not  very  old. 
His  coat  is  of  fur  at  this  season  : 

The  weather,  you  know,  is  so  cold. 

He'll  bring  all  the  children  a  present — 
The  rich,  and  I  hope,  too,  the  poor. 

Some  say  that  he  comes  down  the  chimney  : 
I  think  he  comes  in  at  the  door. 


GOLD. 

Gold!  gold!  gold!  gold! 

Bright  and  yellow,  hard  and  cold, 

Molten,  graven,  hammered  and  rolled, 

Heavy  to  get,  and  light  to  hold  ; 

Hoarded,  bartered,  bought  and  sold. 

Stolen,  borrowed,  squandered,  doled  ; 

Spurned  by  the  young,  but  hugged  by  the  olil 

To  the  very  verge  of  tlie  churchyard  mold  ! 

Price  of  many  a  crime  untold  ; 

Gold!  gold!  gold!  gold! 

Good  or  l)ad,  a  thousand-fold! 

How  widely  its  agencies  vary — 
To  save,  to  ruin,  to  curse,  to  bless, 
As  even  its  minted  coins  express. 
Now  stamped  with  the  image  of  good  Queen  Bess, 

And  now  of  a  Bloody  Mary! 

Thomas  Hood. 


28  tommy's  first   speaker. 

PLAYING  BARBER. 

"  I  wish  I  was  a  little  fish, 

Or  else  a  little  kitty, 
Or  something  that  don't  have  the  curls 

Which  grown  folks  think  so  pretty. 

"  It  hurts  so  when  I  have  them  brushed, 
And  Mary,  ev'ry  morning, 

Says  I  am  '  such  a  naughty  girl,' 
She  surely  will  *give  warning.' 

"  She  jerks,  and  don't  care  how  she  pulls 
She  says  I'm  '  very  trying,' 

But  when  they're  tangled  full  of  snarls, 
How  can  I  keep  from  crying? 

"  I'll  play  I  am  the  barber-man 
And  cut  them  all  to  pieces. 

I  don't  care  if  my  papa  does 

Call  them  his  *  golden  fleeces.'  " 

She  took  the  shears  and  cut  them  ofT, 
With  grave,  absorbed  demeanor. 

And  when  the  little  lamb  was  shorn, 
I  wish  you  could  have  seen  her. 


WORK. 

Work,  for  the  night  is  coming; 

Work  through  the  morning  hours; 
Work,  while  the  dew  is  sparkling; 

Work,  'mid  springing  flowers; 
Work,  when  the  day  grows  brighter. 

Work,  in  the  glowing  sun; 
Work,  for  the  night  is  coming, 

When  man's  work  will  be  done. 


tommy's  first  speaker.  *^0 

THE    SONG   OF   THE   CORN    POPPER. 

Pip  !  pop  !  flipperty  flop  ! 
Here  am  I,  all  ready  to  pop. 
Girls  and  boys,  the  fire  burns  clear ; 
Gather  about  the  cliimney  here. 
Big  ones,  little  ones,  all  in  a  row, 
Hop  away  !  pop  away  !  here  we  go  ! 

Pip  !  pop  !  flipperty  flop  ! 

Into  the  bowl  the  kernels  drop. 

Sharp,  and  hard,  and  yellow,  and  small. 

Must  say  they  don't  look  good  at  all  ; 

But  wait  till  they  burst  into  warm  white  snow ! 

Hop  away  !  pop  away  !  here  wx  go  ! 

Pip  !  pop  !  flipperty  flop  ! 

Don't  fill  me  too  full  ;  shut  down  the  top  ! 

Rake  out  the  coals  in  an  even  bed, 

Topaz  yellow  and  ruby  red  ; 

Shade  your  eyes  from  the  fiery  glow. 

Hop  away  !  pop  away  !  here  we  go  ! 

Pip  !  flop  !  flipperty  flop  ! 
Shake  me  steadily  ;  do  not  stop  ; 
Backward  and  forward,  not  up  and  down  ; 
Don't  let  me  drop,  or  you'll  burn  it  brown, 
Never  too  high,  and  never  too  low. 
Ho*p  away  !  pop  away  !  here  we  go  ! 

Pip  !  pop  !  flipperty  flop  ! 

Now  they  are  singing,  and  soon  they'll  hop. 

Hi !  the  kernels  begin  to  swell. 

Ho  !  at  last  they  are  dancing  well. 

Puffs  and  fluffs  of  feathery  snow. 

Hop  away  !  pop  away  !  here  we  go  ! 

Pip  !  pop  !  flipperty  flop  ! 

All  full,  little  ones  ?  Time  to  stop  ! 

Pour  out  the  snowy,  feathery  mass. 

Here  is  a  treat  for  lad  and  lass. 

Open  your  mouths  now,  all  in  a  row  ; 

Munch  away  !  crunch  away  !  here  we  go  ! 

Laura  E.  Richards. 


30  tommy's  first  speaker. 


THE  FROST. 

The  frost  looked  forth  one  still,  clear  night, 
And  whispered,  "  Now  I  shall  be  out  of  sight, 
So  through  the  valley  and  over  the  height 

In  silence  I'll  take  my  way  ; 
I  will  not  go  on  like  that  blustering  train, 
The  wind  and  the  snow,  the  hail  and  the  rain, 
Who  make  so  much  clatter  and  noise  in  vain. 

But  I'll  be  as  busy  as  they." 

So  he  flew  to  the  mountain  and  powdered  its  crest, 
He  lit  on  the  trees  and  their  boughs  he  drest 
In  diamond  beads,  and  over  the  breast 

Of  the  quivering  lake  he  spread 
A  coat  of  mail,  that  it  need  not  fear 
The  downward  point  of  many  a  spear 
That  he  hung  on  its  margin,  far  and  near, 

Where  a  rock  might  rear  its  head. 

But  he  did  one  thing  that  was  hardly  fair  ; 
He  went  to  the  cupboard,  and  finding  there 
That  all  had  forgotten  for  him  to  prepare, 

''  Now,  just  to  set  them  a-thinking, 
I'll  bite  this  basket  of  fruit,"  said  he  ; 
"This  costly  pitcher  I'll  break  in  three, 
And  this  glass  of  water  they've  left  for  me 

Shall  tchick — to  tell  them  I'm  drinking!" 

Hannah  F.  Gould. 


THE  CHILDREN. 

They  are  idols  of  hearts  and  of  households, 
They  are  angels  of  God  in  disguise; 

His  sunlight  still  sleeps  in  their  tresst^s, 
His  glory  still  gleams  in  their  eyes. 

Charles  M.  Dickenson. 


31 


DICKIE-BIRD!     DICKIE-BIRD! 

Your  feathers  are  ruffled,  your  beak's  rather  long, 
But  dickie-bird,  dickie-bird,  sing  me  a  song. 

Dickie-bird,  sing  of  the  sun  and  the  breeze; 
Dickie-bird,  sing  of  the  birds  and  the  bees; 
The  summer  is  short  and  the  winter  is  long, 
So  dickie-bird,  dickie-bird,  sing  me  a  song. 

The  thrushes  and  linnets  are  singing  so  swest, 
But  we  are  content  to  sit  here  at  your  feet, 
For  we  would  not  leave  you  alone  on  the  tree; 
So  sing,  dickie,  sing  to  my  dollie  and  me. 

And  we  will  be  happy  the  whole  summer  dny. 
The  dickie  shall  sing  and  the  dolly  shall  play — 
Oh,  funniest  dickie  that  ever  I  saw. 
It  is  not  a  song  if  you  only  say   "  Caw." 


LEAVES  FROM  FATHERLAND. 

[The  little  hoy  or  girl  reciting-  these  verses  should  have  a  letter  in  his  or  her 
hand,  with  u  few  dried  leaves. J 

Just  a  few  crocus  leaves, 

Purple  and  fair  to  see, 
And  a  dozen  blades  of  grass, 

Came  to  me  over  the  sea. 

Purple,  and  amber,  and  green. 
These  leaves  are  treasures  to  me. 

For  their  hues  all  blend  to  a  bow  of  love 
From  dear  ones  I  fain  would  see. 

Only  a  few  dry  leaves. 

And  their  colors  all  may  die. 
But  their  beauty  smiles  to  my  very  heart 

Under  this  western  sky. 

T.  W.  Handford, 


32  tommy's  first  speaker. 


"PAPA  CAN'T  FIND  ME." 

No  little  steps  do  I  hear  in  the  hall; 
Only  a  sweet  silver  laugh,  that  is  all; 
No  dimpled  arms  round  my  neck  hold  me  tight; 
I've  but  a  glimpse  of  two  eyes  very  bright 
Two  little  hands  a  wee  face  try  to  screen; 
Baby  is  hiding — that's  plain  to  be  seen. 
"Whfere  is  my  precious  one,  missed  so  all  day?" 
"Papa  tan't  find  me  !"  the  little  lips  say. 

"  Dear  me  !  I  wonder  where  baby  can  be  !  " 
Then  I  go  by  and  pretend  not  to  see. 
"Not  in  the  parlor,  and  not  on  the  stairs  ! 
Then  I  must  peep  under  sofa  and  chairs." 
The  dear  little  rogue  is  now  laughing  outright; 
Two  little  arms  round  my  neck  clasp  me  tight. 
Home  will,  indeed,  be  sad,  w^eary  and  lone. 
When  papa  can't  find  you,  my  darling,  my  own. 


THE  ROBIN  AND  THE  CHICKEN. 

A  plump  little  robin  flew  down  from  a  tree 
To  hunt  for  a  worm  which  he  happened  to  see; 
A  frisky  young  chicken  came  scampering  by, 
And  gazed  at  the  robin  with  wondering  eye. 

Said  the  chick:  "What  a  queer-looking  chicken  is  i!  •;.'.! 
Its  wings  are  so  long  and  its  body  so  fat!  " 
While  the  robin  remarked,  loud  enough  to  be  hear  : 
"Dear  me!  an  exceedingly  strange-looking  bird!  '' 

"Can   you  sing?"  robin  asked,  and  the  chicken  said, 

"No"; 
But  asked  in  its  turn  if  the  robin  could  crow. 
So  the  bird  sought  a  tree  and  the  chicken  a  wall. 
And  each  thought  th-  other  knew  nothing  at  all. 


TOMMY  S    FIRST    SPEAKER.  o'6 


HOW  THE  DIMPLES  CAME. 

"How  came,"  I  asked  a  little  maid, 
"Those  dimples  in  your  cheek?" 

And  bent  my  head  low  down  to  hear 
The  little  maiden  speak. 

*''Ose  dimples  in  my  cheek,"  she  said, 
"Would  'ou  weally  like  to  know? 

They  surely  wasn't  always  there, 
An'  yet  they  didn't  grow. 

"  'Twas  when  a  little  girl,  I  sat, 

Beneath  a  gweat  big  twee, 
A  little  bird  tame  down  an'  sang 

A  pretty  song  to  me. 

"An'  just  before  he  flew  away. 
He  tissed  me  'one,  two,  fee,' 

An'  every  time  he  tissed  so  hard 
He  left  a  hole  in  me. 

"But  'en  I  didn't  tare,  'ou  know. 

It  didn't  hurt  a  mite; 
Wish  the  bird  would  tum  aden* 

An'  sing  to  me  to-night." 


SLEEP,  BABY,  SLEEP. 

Sleep,  baby,  sleep  ! 

Fondly  I  keep 
Watch  o'er  my  darling  when  darkness  is  nigh. 

Have  no  alarm, 

Nothing  will  harm  ; 
Slumber,  my  little  one,  by,  baby,  by. 

I.  L.  Jones. 


34  tommy's  first  speaker. 


WE  ALL  LIKE  SHEEP. 

"We  all  like  sheep,"  the  tenors  shrill 
Begin,  and  then  the  church  is  still. 
While  back  and  forth  across  the  aisle 
Is  seen  to  pass  the  "catching"  smile. 

"We  all  like  sheep,"  the  altos  moan 
In  low,  and  rich,  and  mellow  tone, 
While  broader  grows  the  merry  grin 
And  nose  gets  further  off  from  chin. 
"We  all  like  sheep,"  sopranos  sing 
Till  all  the  echoes  wake  and  ring; 
The  young  folks  titter,  and  the  rest 
Suppress  the  laugh  in  bursting  chest, 

"We  all  like  sheep,"  the  bassos  growl — 
The  titter  grows  into  a  howl. 
And  e'en  the  deacon's  face  is  graced 
With  wonder  at  the  singers'  taste. 

"We  all  like  sheep,"  runs  the  refrain. 
And  then,  to  make  their  meaning  plain, 
The  singers  altogether  say, 
"We  all,  like  sheep,  have  gone  astray." 


ON  GRANDPAPA'S   KNEE. 

The  cosiest  place  and  the  snuggest  spot. 

In  the  summer  time 

When  the  days  are  hot, 
And  Jessie  is  tired  as  tired  can  be, 
Is  just  to  climb  up  on  grandpapa's  knee. 

Oh!  the  dearest  place 

To  nestle  in, 
Is  on  grandpapa's  knee,  just  under  his  chin. 

T.  W.  Handford, 


tommy's  first  speaker.  35 


THE    REMORSEFUL  CAKES. 

A  little  boy  named  Thomas,  ate 
Hot  buckwheat  cakes  for  tea — 

A  very  rash  proceeding,  as 
We  presently  shall  see. 

He  went  to  bed  at  eight  o'clock, 

As  all  good  children  do. 
But  scarce  had  closed  his  little  eyes, 

When  he  most  restless  grew. 

He  flopped  on  this  side,  then  on  that. 

Then  keeled  up  on  his  head. 
And  covered,  all  at  once,  each  spot 

Of  his  wee  trundle-bed. 

He  wrapped  one  arm  around  his  waist, 

And  t'other  'round  his  ear. 
While  mamma  wondered  what  on  earth 

Could  ail  her  little  dear. 

He  fell  asleep,  and  as  he  slept 

He  dreamt  an  awful  dream. 
Of  being  spanked  with  hickory  slabs, 

Without  the  power  to  scream. 

He  dreamt  a  great  big  lion  came 
And  ripped  and  raved  and  roared — 

While  on  his  breast  two  furious  bulls 
In  mortal  combat  gored. 

He  dreamt  he  heard  the  flop  of  wings 

Within  the  chimney  flue — 
And  down  there  crawled,  to  gnaw  his  ears, 

An  awful  bugaboo! 

When  Thomas  rose  next  morn,  his  face 

Was  pallad  as  a  sheet — 
"I  never  more,"  he  firmly  said, 
"Will  cakes  for  supper  eat!  " 

Eugene  Field. 


36  tommy's  first  speaker. 


REDWING'S  SONG. 

The  bogs  show  green  in  the  meadow, 

The  brook  goes  babbling  along; 
High-perched  on  a  dead  limbed  willow, 
Gay  redwing  is  whistling  his  song: 
"O-ka-lee!     O-ka-lee! 
Here  are  we;  come  and  see! 

"My  little  wife  cares  for  the  babies — 
I  see  them  in  yon  grassy  clump; 
Do  you  think  I  will  l^W you  just  which  one 
Be  careful  now;  look  where  you  jump' 
O-ka-lee!     O-ka-lee! 
Babies  wee,  babies  three. 

"  Oh,  fine  is  the  bright,  warm  weather! 
The  tender  leaves  whisper  around; 
The  shad-birch  now  whitens  the  hillsides, 
And  violets  sprinkle  the  ground. 
O-ka-lee!     O-ka-lee! 
Envy  me?     Emy  vci^"^ 

"  I  cannot  sing  all  I  would  like  to, 

My  wife  says:  'Be  still  as  a  mouse.' 
But  I  do  iust  dote  on  this  willow, 

And  I  dreadfully  hate  keeping  house, 
O-ka-lee!     O-ka-lee! 
Pity  me  ?     Fity  me  ? 

"We  redwings  are  singers  and  poets; 
In  meadows  and  brooks  we  delight; 
But,  though  glossy  our  shining  black  dress  coats^ 
Our  family  cares  are  not  light. 
O-ka-lee!     Children  three; 
Don't  you  see?     O-ka-lee  !  " 

S.  J.  Douglass 


tommy's  first  speaker.  37 


THE  BOY  AND  THE  BOOT. 

"  Bother!  "  was  all  that  John  Clatterby  said; 
His  breath  came  quick  and  his  cheeks  were  red; 
He  flourished  his  elbows  and  looked  absurd 
While,  over  and  over,  his  "Bother!"  I  heard. 

Harder  and  harder  he  tugged  and  worked; 
Vainly  and  savagely  still  he  jerked; 
The  boot,  half  on,  would  dawdle  and  flap, 
"Bother!"  and  then  he  burst  the  strap. 

Redder  than  ever  his  hot  cheek  flamed; 

Louder  than  ever  he  fumed  and  blamed; 

He  wiggled  his  heel  and  he  tugged  at  the  leather 

Till  his  knees  and  his  chin  came  bumping  together. 

"  My  boy,"  said  I,  in  a  voice  like  a  flute, 

"Wiiy  not  first  try  your  troublesome  boot 

On  the  other  foot?"     "  I'm  a  goose!  "  laughed  John, 

As  he  stood,  in  a  flash,  with  his  two  boots  on. 

In  half  the  affairs  of  this  every-day  life 
(As  that  same  day  I  said  to  my  wife). 
Our  troubles  come  from  trying  to  put 
The  left-ha7id  boot  on  the  right-hand  foot. 


HUNDREDS! 


Hundreds  of  stars  in  the  pretty  sky. 

Hundreds  of  shells  on  the  shore  together. 
Hundreds  of  birds  that  go  singing  by. 

Hundreds  of  bees  in  the  sunny  weather. 
Hundreds  of  dew-drops  to  greet  the  dawn. 

Hundreds  of  lambs  in  the  purple  clover. 
Hundreds  of  butterflies  on  the  lawn. 

But  only  one  mother  the  wide  world  over. 


tommy's  first  speaker.  38 


MOTHER'S   GIRL. 


Sleeves  to  the  dimpled  elbov/, 
Fun  in  the  sweet  blue  eyes, 

To  and  fro  upon  errands, 
The  little  maiden  hies. 

Now  she  is  washing  dishes. 
Now  she  is  feeding  the  chicks, 

Now  she  is  playing  with  pussy^ 
Or  teaching  Rover  tricks. 

Wrapped  in  a  big  white  apron, 
Pinned  in  a  checkered  shawl, 

Hanging  clothes  in  the  garden, 
Oh,  were  she  only  tall! 

Hushing  the  fretful  baby. 
Coaxing  his  hair  to  curl, 

Stepping  around  so  briskly, 
Because  she  is  mother's  girl. 

Hunting  for  eggs  in  the  haymow, 
Petting  old  Brindle's  calf, 

Riding  Don  to  the  pasture, 
With  many  a  ringing  laugh. 

Coming  whenever  you  call  her, 
Running  wherever  sent, 

Mother's  girl  is  a  blessing. 
And  mother  is  well  content. 


ONLY  FIVE. 


I  am  a  very  little  girl, 

I'm  only  five  years  old; 
I  hope  that  none  who  hear  me  speak 

Will  think  I  am  too  bold. 


T(mMY's    FIRST    SPEAKER.  39 


ENGLISH  HISTORY  IN  RHYME. 

First  William  the  Norman, 

Then  William  his  son; 

Henry,  Stephen,  and  Henry, 

Then  Richard  and  John; 

Next  Henry  the  Third, 

Edwards  one,  two  and  three; 

And  again,  after  Richard, 

Three  Henrys  we  see. 

Two  Edwards,  third  Richard, 

If  rightly  I  guess; 

Two  Henrys,  sixth  Edward, 

Queen  Mary,  Queen  Bess; 

Then  Jamie  the  Scotchman, 

Then  Charles,  whom  they  slew, 

Yet  received,  atter  Cromwell, 

Another  Charles,  too. 

Next  Jamie  the  Second 

Ascended  the  throne; 

Then  good  William  and  Mary 

Together  came  on; 

Then  Anne,  Georges  four. 

And  fourth  William  all  passed 

And  Victoria  came — 

May  she  long  be  the  last. 


THE  EAGLE. 


What  is  that,  mother? 

The  eagle,  boy — 
Proudly  careering  his  course  of  joy, 
Firm  in  his  own  mountain  vigor  relying, 
Breasting  the  dark  storm,  the  red  bolt  defying ; 
His  wing  on  the  wind,  and  his  eye  on  the  sun, 
He  swerves  not  a  hair,  but  bears  onward,  ri<;ht  on. 
Boy,  may  the  eagle's  flight  ever  be  thine, 
Onward  and  upward,  true  to  the  line. 

Bishop  Donne. 


40  tommy's  first  speaker. 


MY  BED  IS  A  BOAT. 

My  bed  is  like  a  little  boat  ; 

Nurse  helps  me  in  when  I  embark  ; 
She  girds  me  in  my  sailor  coat 

And  starts  me  in  the  dark. 

At  night  I  go  on  board  and  say 

Good-night  to  all  my  friends  on  shore; 

I  shut  my  eyes  and  sail  away, 
And  see  and  hear  no  more. 

And  sometimes  things  to  bed  I  take, 
As  prudent  sailors  have  to  do — 

Perhaps  a  slice  of  wedding-cake, 
Perhaps  a  toy  or  two. 

All  night  across  the  dark  we  steer; 

But  when  the  day  returns  at  last, 
Safe  in  the  room,  beside  the  fire, 

I  find  my  vessel  fast. 

R.  L.  Stevenson. 


THE  GROVES. 


The  groves  were  God's  first  temples,  'ere  man  learned 

To  hew  the  shaft  and  lay  the  architrave, 

And  spread  the  roof  above  them — ere  he  framed 

The  lofty  vault,  to  gather  and  roll  back 

The  sound  of  anthems,  in  the  darkling  wood. 

Amid  the  cool  and  silence,  he  knelt  down 

And  offered  to  the  Mightiest  solemn  thanks 

And  supplication.      Let  me,  then,  at  least. 

Here  in  the  shadow  of  this  aged  wood, 

Offer  one  hymn — thrice  happy  if  it  find 

Acceptance  in  His  ear. 

William  Cullen  Bryant. 


tommy's  first  speaker.  41 


"NO!" 

Would  ye  learn  the  bravest  thing 

That  man  can  ever  do  ? 
Would  ye  be  an  uncrowned  king, 

Absolute  and  true  ? 

Would  ye  seek  to  emulate 

All  ye  see  in  story, 
Of  the  noble,  just  and  great, 

Rich  in  real  glory  ? 

Would  ye  lose  much  bitter  care 

In  the  world  below  ? 
Bravely  speak  out  when  and  where 

'Tis  right  to  utter  "No  !" 

Learn  to  speak  this  little  word 

In  its  proper  place  ; 
Let  no  timid  doubt  be  heard, 

Clothed  with  skeptic  grace. 

Let  thy  lips,  without  disguise, 

Boldly  pour  it  out ; 
Though  a  thousand  dulcet  lies 

Keep  hovering  about. 

For  be  sure  our  lives  would  lose 

Future  years  of  woe. 
If  our  courage  could  refuse 

The  present  hour  with  "  No  !" 

Eliza  Cook. 


WHAT  THE  SNOW-DROP  SAID. 

I  am  a  little  snow-drop, 
As  pure  as  pure  can  be: 

I  come  with  bright-eyed  Daisy 
The  Queen  of  May  to  see. 


42  tommy's  first  speaker. 


TEN  LITTLE  TOES. 

Baby  is  clad  in  her  nightgown  white  ; 
Pussy-cat  purrs  a  soft  good-night  ; 
And  somebody  tells,  for  somebody  knows, 
The  terrible  tale  of  ten  little  toes. 

RIGHT    FOOT. 

This  big  toe  took  a  small  boy,  Sam, 

Into  the  cupboard  after  the  jam  ; 

This  little  toe  said  :   "  Oh,  no  !   no  !" 

This  little  toe  was  anxious  to  go  ; 

This  little  toe  said  :  "'Tisn't  quite  right !" 

This  little  toe  curled  up  out  of  sight. 

LEFT    FOOT. 

This  big  toe  got  suddenly  stubbed  ; 

This  little  toe  got  ruefully  rubbed  ; 

This  little  frightened  toe  cried  out,  "  Bears  !'' 

This  little  timid  toe  ran  up  stairs  ; 

Down  came  a  toe  with  a  loud  slam  !  slam  ! 

This  little  tiny  toe  got  all  the  jam  ! 


THE  LITTLE  THINGS. 

Little  sands  make  up  the  shore  ; 
Little  drops  cause  rain  to  pour  ; 
Little  crimes  great  troubles  bring  ; 
Little  slanders  leave  their  sting  ; 
Little  words  of  love  delight ; 
Little  words  of  wrath  cause  fight ; 
Little  shafts  of  malice  pierce  ; 
Little  quarrels  are  a  curse  ; 
Little  pigs  do  loudly  squeak  ; 
Little  boys  like  me  can  speak. 


tommy's  first  speaker.  43 


GOOD  AND  BAD  CHILDREN. 

Children,  you  are  very  little, 
And  your  bones  are  very  brittle  ; 
If  you  would  grow  great  and  stately, 
You  must  try  to  walk  sedately. 

You  must  still  be  bright  and  quiet. 
And  content  with  simple  diet ; 
And  remain,  through  all  bewild'ring, 
Innocent  and  honest  children. 

Happy  hearts  and  happy  faces, 
Happy  play  in  grassy  places — 
That  was  how,  in  ancient  ages, 
Children  grew  to  kings  and  sages. 

But  the  unkind  and  unruly. 
And  the  sort  who  eat  unduly, 
They  must  never  hope  for  glory — 
Theirs  is  quite  a  different  story. 

Cruel  children,  crying  babies, 
All  grow  up  as  geese  and  gabies, 
Hated,  as  their  age  increases. 
By  their  nephews  and  their  nieces. 

Robert  Louis  Stevenson. 


THE  VALUE  OF  LITTLE  THINGS. 

Little  moments  make  an  hour; 

JLittle  thoughts,  a  book; 
Little  seeds,  a  tree  or  flower; 

Water  drops,  a  brook; 
Little  deeds  of  faith  and  love. 
Make  a  home  for  you  above. 


44  tommy's  first  speaker. 


THE  SONG  OF  THE  SPARROW. 

I  am  only  a  little  sparrow — 

A  bird  of  low  degree  ; 
My  life  is  of  little  value, 

But  the  dear  Lord  cares  for  me. 

He  gave  me  a  coat  of  feathers- 
It  is  very  plain  I  know, 

With  never  a  speck  of  crimson, 
For  it  was  not  made  for  show. 

But  it  keeps  me  warm  in  winter, 
And  it  shields  me  from  the  rain  ; 

Were  it  bordered  with  gold  or  purple, 
Perhaps  it  would  make  me  vain. 

I  have  no  barn  or  storehouse, 

I  neither  sow  nor  reap  ; 
God  gives  me  a  sparrow's  portion, 

But  never  a  seed  to  keep. 

If  my  meal  is  sometimes  scanty. 
Close  picking  makes  it  sweet  ; 

I  have  always  enough  to  feed  me. 
And  "  life  is  more  than  meat." 

I  know  there  are  many  sparrows  ; 

All  over  the  world  we  are  found  ; 
But  our  Heavenly  Father  knoweth 

When  one  of  us  falls  to  the  ground. 

Though  small,  we  are  not  forgotten  ; 

Though  weak,  we  are  never  afraid  ; 
For  we  know  that  the  dear  Lord  keepeth  ; 

The  life  of  the  creatures  He  made. 

I  fly  through  the  thickest  forest, 

I  light  on  many  a  spray  ; 
I  have  no  chart  or  compass. 

But  I  never  lose  my  way. 


tommy's  first  speaker.  45 

And  I  fold  my  wings  at  twilight, 

Wherever  I  happen  to  be  ; 
For  the  Father  is  always  watching, 

And  no  harm  will  come  to  me. 


BESSIE  BO  PEEP  OF  ENGLE  STEEPE. 

A  dear  little  girl  was  Bessie  Bo  Peep, 

The  pet  and  idol  of  Engle  Steepe — 

Her  eyes  were  blue,  she'd  the  sweetest  smile 

You'd  see  though  you  walked  a  hundred  mile. 

Not  a  cottage  door  in  P^ngle  Steepe, 

But  opened  wide  to  Bessie  Bo  Peep; 

As  welcome  as  flowers  that  bloom  in  May, 

She  smiled,  then  passed  like  a  sunbeam  away. 

But  the  little  sick  children  of  Engle  Steepe, 
Were  most  in  love  with  Bessie  Bo  Peep — 
Far  better  than  medicine — powders  or  pills — 
Her  smile  seemed  to  cure  their  many  ills. 

Whenever  she  sat  by  the  sufferer's  bed. 

At  least  one  half  the  suffering  fled; 

Her  smile,  and  her  kiss,  and  her  little  bouquet, 

Would  brighten  the  sick  room  all  that  day. 

But  a  dark  day  came  to  Engle  Steepe, 

A  cruel  fever  seized  Bessie  Bo  Peep; 

'Twas  a  sad  day  all  through  that  country  side. 

When  the  pet  and  pride  of  the  village  died. 

And  now  in  the  graveyard  by  Walter's  Mill, 
You  may  read  on  a  stone  these  words  if  you  will, 
"The  dearest  child  here  lies  asleep. 
That  ever  breathed  in  Engle  Steepe.' 

T.  W.  Handford. 


46  tommy's  first  speaker. 


TO  OUR  BABY. 


April  brought  you  to  us,  dear — 
April,  with  its  sun  and  showers, 
April,  with  its  dainty  flowers, 
April,  with  its  strong,  young  breeze 
Whispering  through  the  leafless  trees  : 
*' Now  the  dreary  winter's  done. 
Now  comes  spring  with  flowers  and  sun. 

So  upon  an  April  morn 

Our  dear  baby  girl  was  born. 

Quickly  flew  the  days  away. 
Came  the  "merrie  month  of  May." 

Cool,  fair  morning,  sunny  noon, 
Welcomed  in  the  month  of  June. 

Soft  we  sang  the  lullaby 
Through  the  long  days  of  July. 

Flowers  drooped  and  pined  away 
In  the  heated  August  day. 

Raindrops  falling  low  and  clear, 
Breathed  aloud,  "  September's  here." 

Leaves  grew  purple,  red  and  gold, 
As  October  days  were  told. 

And  each  day  much  shorter  grew 
As  November  by  us  flew. 

Low  and  sweet  the  anthem  rings 
To  the  day  December  brings. 

White  and  cold  the  snowdrifts  lay — 
January  passed  away. 

Colder  still  the  sharp  winds  blew — ■ 
February  days  were  few. 


tommy's  first  speaker.  47 

Birds  again  began  to  sing  ; 

March  had  come,  and  with  it  spring. 

Clouds  are  bright  in  April  sky  ; 
Summer's  coming  by-and-by. 

And  these  twelve  months  make  the  year 
That  we've  loved  you,  baby  dear. 


BEDLAM  TOWN. 

Do  you  want  to  peep  into  Bedlam  Town  ? 
Then  come  with  me  as  the  day  swings  down. 

Into  his  cradle,  whose  rocker's  rim 
Some  people  call  the  horizon  dim. 

Air  the  mischief  of  all  the  fates 
Seems  to  center  in  four  little  pates. 

Just  an  hour  before  we  say: 

"It  is  time  for  bed  now,  stop  your  play." 

Oh,  the  racket  and  noise  and  roar, 

As  they  prance  like  a  caravan  over  the  floor, 

With  never  a  thought  of  the  head  that  aches. 
And  never  a  heed  to  the  "  mercy  sakes," 

And  "pity  save  us,"  and  "oh,  dear,  dear," 
That  all  but  the  culprits  plainly  hear. 

A  monkey,  a  parrot,  a  guinea  hen. 
Warriors,  elephants,  Indian  men, 

A  salvation  army,  a  grizzly  bear. 
Are  all  at  once  in  the  nursery  there. 

And  when  the  clock  in  the  hall  strikes  seven, 
It  sounds  to  us  like  a  voice  from  heaven. 

And  each  of  the  boys  in  a  warm  night-gown 
Marches  away  out  of  Bedlam  Town. 

Ella  Wheeler. 


48  tommy's  first  speaker. 


YE  BALLAD  OF  CHRISTMAS. 

Sing  a  song  of  Christmas! 

Pockets  full  of  gold, 
Plums  and  cakes  for  Polly's  stocking, 

More  than  it  can  hold. 
Pudding  in  the  great  pot, 

Turkey  on  the  spit, 
Merry  faces  round  the  fire — 

Sorry  ?  not  a  bit! 

Sing  a  song  of  Christmas  ! 

Carols  in  the  street. 
Bundles  going  home  with  people, 

Everywhere  we  meet. 
Holly,  fir  and  spruce  boughs 

Green  upon  the  wall, 
Spotless  snow  along  the  road, 

More  going  to  fall. 

Sing  a  song  of  Christmas  ! 

Empty  pockets  here  ; 
Windows  broken,  garments  thin, 

Stove  black  and  drear, 
Noses  blue  and  frosty. 

Fingers  pinched  and  red, 
Little  hungry  children 

Going  supperless  to  bed. 

Sing  a  song  of  Christmas  ! 

Tears  are  falling  fast; 
Empty  is  the  baby's  chair 

Since  'twas  Christmas  last. 
Wrathfully  the  north  wind 

Wails  across  the  snow  ; 
Is  there  not  a  little  grave 

Frozen  down  below  ? 


Sing  a  song  of  Christmas ! 
Thanks  to  God  on  high 


TOMMY  S    FIRST    SPEAKER.  40 

For  the  tender  hearts  abounding 

Witli  His  charity! 
Gifts  lor  all  the  needy, 

For  the  sad  hearts,  love, 
And  a  little  angel  smiling 

In  sweet  heaven  above! 


OUR  JIM. 

Only  a  boy,  with  his  noise  and  fun, 

The  veriest  mystery  under  the  sun; 

As  brimful  of  mischief,  and  wit  and  glee, 

As  ever  a  human  frame  can  be, 

And  as  hard  to  manage  as — ah!  ah,  me! 


Tis  hard  to  tel 
Yet  we  love  him  well. 

Only  a  boy,  with  his  restless  tread. 
Who  cannot  be  driven,  but  must  be  led; 
Who  troubles  the  neighbors'  dogs  and  cats. 
And  tears  more  clothes,  and  spoils  more  hats, 
Loses  more  tops,  and  kites  and  bats, 

Than  would  stock  a  store 

For  a  year  or  more. 


BABY'S  SKIES, 

Would  you  know  the  baby's  skies  .^ 
Baby's  skies  are  mamma's  eyes. 
Mamma's  eyes,  and  smile  together, 
Make  the  baby's  pleasant  weather. 

Mamma,  keep  your  eyes  from  tears; 
Keep  your  heart  from  foolish  fears; 
Keep  your  lips  from  dull  complainings 
LiQ5t  t,he  baby  think  its  caiiainffx 


50  tommy's  first  speaker. 


MAMMA'S    FLOWER. 

Some  day  the  daisies  will  all  be  dead, 

And  all  the  birds  will  fly  away, 
And  the  clover  blossoms,  so  bright  and  red, 
V\  ill  fall  in  the  grasses  and  fade,  some  day; 
Oh  how^  will  the  meadows  be  then,  mamma, 
And  where  will  you  take  me  then  to  play? 

After  the  daisies  are  dead,  my  dear. 

And  clover  blossoms  are  dry  and  brown, 
The  boughs  will  bend  with  fruits  of  the  year. 
And  crimson  leaves  come  fluttering  down; 
While  over  the  warm  and  withered  sod 
Will  toss  the  plumes  of  the  golden  rod. 

But,  mamma,  the  golden  rod  will  go. 

And  the  rosy  apples  so  round  and  fair. 
And  over  the  woods  the  winds  will  blow 
'Till  all  the  branches  are  black  and  bare; 

Then  how  will  the  flowers  come  back,  mamma, 
When  winter  has  killed  them  everywhere? 

My  child,  they  sleep  beneath  the  snow, 

Warm  and  safe  in  their  mossy  bed ; 
As  snugly  as  you,  when  cold  winds  blow, 
Hide  in  the  pillow^s  your  curly  head ; 

P'or  God  takes  care  of  the  flowers  each  year. 
As  mamma  takes  care  of  you,  my  dear. 

For  you  are  my  own  sweet  flower,  my  child. 

Mamma's  flower,  with  the  violet  eyes; 
The  snows  may  come  and  the  winds  grow  wild, 
And  storms  may  darken  the  soft  blue  skies; 

But  mamma  will  come  with  the  morning  light. 
To  kiss  you  again,  my  dear.     Good-night. 

M.  M.  Cass,  Jr. 
May  12,  1885. 


TOMMY^S    FIRST    SPEAKER.  51 


GOING  TO  AUNT  RUTH'S  TO  TEA. 

You're  going  out  to  tea  to-day, 

Be  careful  what  you  do  ; 
Let  all  accounts  that  I  shall  hear 

Be  pleasant  ones  of  you. 

Don't  spill  your  tea,  or  gnaw  your  bread, 
And  don't  tease  one  another; 

And  Fanny  mustn't  talk  too  much. 
Or  quarrel  with  her  brother. 

Say  "  If  you  please,"  and  "  Thank  you,^' 
Come  home  at  eight  o'clock; 

And  Ethel,  pray  be  careful,  dear. 
And  do  not  tear  your  frock. 

Now  mind  your  manners,  children  dear. 

Attend  to  what  I  say; 
And  then,  perhaps,  I'll  let  you  go 

To  Aunt's  another  day. 


LULLABY. 


Rockaby,  baby,  thy  cradle  is  green, 
Father's  a  nobleman,  mother's  a  queen, 
Rockaby,  lullaby  all  the  day  long, 
Down  to  the  land  of  the  lullaby  song, 
Babyland  never  again  will  be  thine. 
Land  of  all  mystery,  holy,  divine. 

Motherland,  Otherland, 

Wonderland,  Underland, 
Land  of  a  time  ne'er  again  to  be  seen; 

Flowerland,  Bowerland, 

Airyland,  Fairyland, 
Rockaby,  baby,  thy  cradle  is  green. 


52  tommy's  first  speaker. 


AN  EASTER  SONG. 

The  mists  of  Easter  morning 

Roll  slowly  o'er  the  hills, 
The  joy  of  Easter  morning, 

The  heart  of  nature  thrills. 

The  songs  of  birds  are  calling 

Good  people  from  repose, 
To  sing  of  that  first  Easter 

When  Christ  the  Lord  arose. 

Upon  a  thousand  altars 

Are  flowers  of  richest  bloom. 

Proclaiming  with  sv/eet  voices 
How  Jesus  left  the  tomb. 

And  choirs  with  choirs  uniting 
In  sweet  melodious  breath, 

Chant  forth  their  glad  hosannas 
To  him  who  conquered  death. 

Nor  shall  our  lips  be  silent. 

By  Joseph's  empty  grave; 
Wake,  heart,  and  sing  His  praises 

Who  came  the  world  to  save. 

He  lives!     No  grave  could  hold  Him, 
He  broke  death's  cruel  bands, 

And  now  he  reigns  triumphant, 
The  glory  of  all  lands. 

And  north  and  south  in  anthems. 
And  east  and  west  in  song, 

Through  all  this  happy  Eastertide 
His  praises  shall  prolong. 

For  from  that  garden  sepulcher 

Immortal  hopes  arise. 
The  portals  of  that  house  of  death 
Lead  straight  to  Paradise. 

T.  W.  Handford. 
Maywood,  Easter-day,  1885, 


FIRST    SPEAKER.  53 


MAMMA'S   BOY. 

I  know  a  house  so  full  of  noise 
You'd  think  a  regiment  of  boys, 
From  early  morn  till  close  of  day, 
Were  busy  with  their  romping  play. 
And  yet  I'm  ready  to  declare, 
There  is  but  one  small  youngster  there— 
A  little  golden- headed  chap, 
Who  used  to  think  his  mother's  lap 
The  nicest  place  that  e'er  could  be; 
Until  he  grew  so  big  that  he 
Was  most  a  man,  and  learned  what  fun 
It  is  to  shout  and  jump. and  run. 
This  restless,  noisy  little  elf, 
Has  learned,  alas!  to  think  himself 
Too  old  in  mother's  arms  to  sleep. 
Yet  his  blue  eyes  he  cannot  keep 
From  hiding 'neath  their  lids  so  white, 
And  climbing  to  the  sofa's  height, 
He  snuggles  down,  forgets  his  play, 
And  into  dreamland  sails  away ; 
And  then  it  is  that  mamma  knows 
Why  the  whole  house  so  silent  grows. 


REMEMBER. 


Remember,  though  box  in  the  plural  makes  boxes, 

The  plural  of  ox  should  be  oxen,  not  oxes; 

And  remember,  though  fleece  in  the  plural  is  fleeces. 

That  the  plural  of  goose  isn't  gooses  nor  geeses; 

And  remember,  though  house  in  the  plural  is  houses. 

The  plural  of  mouse  should  be  mice,  not  mouses. 

Mouse,  it  is  true,  in  the  plural  is  mice. 

But  the  plural  of  house  should  be  houses,  not  bice; 

And  foot,  it  is  true,  in  the  plural  is  feet. 

But  the  plural  of  root  should  be  roots,  and  not  reet 


54  tommy's  first  speaker. 


THE   WATERMILLION. 


There  were  a  watermillion 

Growing  on  a  vine, 
And  there  were  a  pickaninny 

A-watching  it  all  the  time. 

And  when  that  watermillion 
Were  a-ripening  in  the  sun, 

And  the  Stripes  along  its  jacket 
Were  coming  one  by  one. 

That  pickaninny  hooked  it, 

And  toting  it  away, 
He  ate  that  entire  million 

W^ithin  one  single  day. 

He  ate  the  rind  and  pieces. 
He  finished  it  with  vim, 

And  then  that  watermillion 
Just  up  and  finished  him. 


SANTA  CLAUS.       . 

Little  fairy  snowflakes 

Dancing  in  the  flue; 
Old  Mr.  Santa  Claus, 

What  is  keeping  you? 
Twilight  and  firelight 

Shadows  come  and  go; 
Merry  chime  of  sleigh-bells 

Twinkling  through  the  snow; 
Mother's  knitting  stockings. 

Pussy's  got  the  ball ; 
Don't  you  think  that  winter's 

Pleasanter  than  all.? 


FIRST    SPEAKER.  55 


TEN  TRUE  FRIENDS. 

Ten  true  friends  you  have, 

Who,  five  in  a  row, 
Upon  each  side  of  you 

Go  where  you  go. 

Suppose  you  arc  sleepy, 
They  help  you  to  bed; 

Suppose  you  are  hungry, 
They  see  that  you  are  fed. 

They  wake  up  your  dolly 
And  put  on  her  clothes, 

And  trundle  her  carriage 
Wherever  she  goes. 

And  these  ten  tiny  fellows, 
They  serve  you  with  ease; 

And  they  ask  nothing  from  you, 
But  work  hard  to  please. 

Now,  with  ten  willing  servants, 

So  trusty  and  true. 
Pray  who  would  be  lazy 

Or  idle — would  you? 


GOOD  LUCK  AND  BAD  LUCK. 

Good  Luck  is  the  gayest  of  all  gay  girls; 

Long  in  one  place   she  will  not  stay, 
Back  from  her  brow  she  strokes  her  curls. 

Kisses  you  quick  and  flies  away. 

But  Madame  Bad  Luck  soberly  comes 
And  stays — no  fancv  has  she  for  flitting — 

Snatches  of  true  love  songs  she  hums. 

And  sits  by  your  bed  and  brings  her  knitting. 

JouN  Hay. 


66  tommy's  first  speaker. 


GOOD  QUEEN  BESS. 

Oh,  I  know  a  little  queen, 

Just  the  daintiest  ever  seen, 
She  rules  her  subjects  with  a  smile  so  gay; 

From  a  wave  of  her  small  hand 

We  obey  her  sweet  command. 
For  we  crowned  her,  charming  Bessie,  queen  of  May. 

Oh,  we  crowned  her,  you  must  know, 

Where  the  nodding  daisies  grow. 
Her  throne  is  where  the  birds  sing  all  the  day. 

And  her  domain  is  the  wood, 

Where  she  reigns  as  monarchs  should, 
Does  our  dainty,  charming  Bessie,  queen  of  May. 

She's  a  maiden,  just  sixteen. 

Is  this  winsome  little  queen; 
She  steals  our  hearts  away,  she  is  so  bright; 

Long  live  the  good  queen  Bess, 

And  every  hour  bless. 
Her  pretty  head,  crowned  o'er  with  daisies  white. 

Flora  Newhouse  Montgomery. 


THE  YELLOW  POCKET. 

Father  Matthew,  the  apostle  of  temperance  in  Ireland, 
mentioned  in  one  of  his  temperance  addresses  that  a  corn- 
dealer  in  Cork,  named  Barry,  was  one  day  met,  when  on 
his  way  to  the  savings  bank,  by  a  whisky  dealer,  who  said 
to  him,  with  an  inquisitive  look:  "Why  is  it  that  you  do 
not  come  to  see  me  now,  my  friend,  so  often  as  you  used  to 
do?"  To  this  the  other  replied,  "I  cannot  do  any  such 
thing  now;  my  friend,  Father  Matthew,  has  desired  me  to 
keep  from  temptation."  "  I  am  sorry  to  see  you  looking 
so  badly ;  your  face  is  quite  yellow."  "  Why,"  said  Barry, 
"  if  my  face  is  yellow  so  is  my  pocket,  too" ;  and  he  pulled 
out  four  sovereigns,  which  he  was  going  to  pay  into  the 
bank. 


tommy's  first  speaker.  57 


TWO  LITTLE    FEET. 

Two  little  feet  went  pattering  by, 

Years  ago! 
They  wandered  off  to  the  sunny  sky, 

Years  ago! 
Two  little  socks,  well  wrinkled  and  worn, 
Move  me  to  tears,  with  their  memories  born 

Years  ago! 

Dear  little  feet  that  ran  here  and  there 

Years  ago! 
Creeping,  climbing  about  everywhere 

Years  ago! 
Crept  never  back  to  the  love  they  left. 
Climbed  nevermore  into  arms  bereft 

Years  ago! 

Again  I'll  hear  those  dear  little  feet 

Pattering  by! 
Their  music  a  thousand  fold  more  sweet 

In  the  sky! 
I  joy  to  think  of  the  Father's  care, 
That  holds  them  safe  till  I  meet  them  there 

By-and-by! 


THE  COURAGEOUS  BOY. 

Some  of  the  boys  in  our  school. 
Whose  elbows  I  can't  reach. 

Are  ten  times  more  ashamed  than  I 
To  rise  and  make  a  speech. 

I  guess  they  are  afraid  some  girl 

Who  is  about  their  age. 
May  laugh  and  criticise  their  looks 

When  the}  come  on  the  stage. 


58  tommy's  first  speaker. 


WINTER'S  SNOWS. 

Summer  joys  are  o'er; 

Flow'rets  bloom  no  more, 
Wintry  winds  are  sweeping, 
Through  the  snow-drifts  peeping. 

Cheerful  evergreen 

Rarely  now  is  seen. 

Now  no  plumed  throng 

Charms  the  wood  with  song; 
Ice-bound  trees  are  glittering; 
Merry  snow-birds  twittering, 

Fondly  strive  to  cheer 

Scenes  so  cold  and  drear. 

Winter,  still  I  see 

Many  charms  in  thee — 
I  love  thy  chilly  greeting. 
Snow-storms  fiercely  beating, 

And  dear  delights 

Of  the  long,  long  nights. 

LUDWIG  Hoi.TY. 


BABY'S  CRADLE  IS  GREEN. 

Rockaby,  baby,  thy  mother  will  keep 
Gentle  watch  over  thine  azure-eyed  sleep. 
Baby  can't  feel  what  the  mother  heart  knows, 
Throbbing  its  fear  o'er  your  quiet  repose. 
Mother  heart  knows  how  baby  must  fight 
Wearily  on  through  the  fast  coming  night; 

Battle  unending, 

Honor  defending. 
Baby  must  wage  with  the  powers  unseen. 

Sleep  now,  oh,  baby  dear, 

God  and  thy  mother  near, 
Rockaby,  baby,  thy  cradle  is  green. 


59 


THE  LONG  SERMON. 

Oh,  the  sun  is  bright  and  the  day  is  fair, 
And  the  sweet  breeze  wanders  everywhere, 
And  the  sweet  birds  sing  as  they  h'ghtly  fly, 
And  I  wish  we  could  join  them,  Joe  and  I. 

We  were  bidden  to  listen,  and  so  we  do, 
Shut  up  in  the  narrow  and  stuffy  pew; 
Behaving  just  as  well  as  we  can. 
We  look  over  there  at  the  preacher-man. 

We  can't  understand,  though  we  take  such  pains; 
All  sense  seems  gone  from  our  little  brains; 
So  we  just  sit  quiet,  as  best  we  may. 
And  wait  till  the  long  hour  wears  away. 

Oh,  how  can  he  have  so  much  to  say, 
The  preacher-man,  such  a  lovely  day? 
And  what  in  the  world  he  is  talking  about 
We  do  not  know  and  we  can't  find  out. 


ROCKABY. 


Rockaby,  baby,  the  days  will  grow  long; 

Silent  the  voice  of  the  mother's  love-song. 

Bowed  with  sore  burdens  the  man-life  must  own, 

Sorry  that  baby  must  bear  all  alone. 

Wonderland  never  can  come  back  again; 

Thought  will  come  soon — and  with  reason  comes  pain. 

Sorrowland,  Morrowland, 

Wearyland,  Drearyland, 
Baby  and  Heavenland  lying  between; 

Shine,  then,  in  Motherland, 

Dream  in  the  otherland, 
Rockaby,  baby,  thy  cradle  is  green. 


60  tommy's  first  speaker. 


THE  NINE  PARTS  OF  SPEECH. 

Three  little  words  you  often  see 
Are  Articles — a,  an^  and  the, 

A  Noun's  the  name  of  anything, 
As  school^  or  garden^  hoop^  or  swing. 

Adjectives  tell  the  kind  of  noun, 

As  great^  sfnall^  pretty^  white^  or  brown. 

Instead  of  Nouns  the  Pronouns  stand — 
Her  head,  his  face^ your  arm,  my  hand. 

Verbs  tell  of  something  to  be  done — 
To. read,  count,  sing,  laugh,  Jump,  or  run. 

How  things  are  done  the  Adverbs  tell. 
As  slowly^  quickly,  ill,  or  well. 

Conjunctions  join  the  words  together, 
As  man  and  woman,  wind  or  weather. 

The  Preposition  stands  before 
A  Noun,  as  at  or  through  the  door. 

The  Interjection  shows  surprise. 
As  Ah  !  how  pretty,  Oh  !  how  wise. 

The  whole  are  called  Nine  Parts  of  Speech, 
Which  reading,  writing,  speaking  teach. 


WHAT  THE  DAISY  SAID. 

I  am  a  little  daisy 

Right  from  the  dewy  earth; 
I've  come  to  add  my  sweetness, 
To  this  bright  scene  of  mirth. 


tommy's  first  speaker,  61 


TWINKLE,  TWINKLE. 

Twinkle,  twinkle,  little  star. 
How  I  wonder  what  you  are! 
Up  above  the  world  so  high, 
Like  a  diamond  in  the  sky. 

When  the  glorious  sun  is  set, 
When  the  grass  with  dew  is  wet. 
Then  you  show  your  little  light; 
Twinkle,  twinkle  all  the  night. 

In  the  dark  blue  sky  you  keep. 
Often  thro'  my  curtains  peep; 
For  you  never  shut  your  eye 
Till  the  sun  is  in  the  sky. 

As  your  bright  and  tiny  spark 
Lights  the  traveler  in  the  dark; 
Though  I  know  not  what  you  are, 
Twinkle,  twinkle,  little  star. 


A  LITTLE  BOY'S  LECTURE. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  Nearly  four  hundred  years 
ago  the  mighty  mind  of  Columbus,  traversing  unknown 
seas,  clasped  this  new  continent  in  its  embrace. 

A  few  centuries  later  arose  one  here  who  now  lives  in 
all  our  hearts  as  the  Father  of  his  Country.  An  able  war- 
rior, a  sagacious  statesman,  a  noble  gentleman.  Yes, 
Christopher  Columbus  was  great.  George  Washington 
was  great.  But  here,  my  friends,  in  this  glorious  nine- 
teenth century  is — ?i.  grater!  [Exhibiting  a  large,  bright 
tin  grater.  The  large  kind  used  for  horseradish  could  be 
most  easily  distinguished  by  the  audience.] 

Julia  M,  Thayer.. 


62  tommy's  first   speaker. 

"ISN'T  GOD  UPON  THE  OCEAN  JUST  THE 
SAME  AS  ON  THE  LAND?" 

We  were  crowded  in  the  cabin, 
Not  a  soul  would  dare  to  sleep, 

It  was  midnight  on  the  waters. 
And  a  storm  was  on  the  deep. 

'Tis  a  fearful  thing  in  winter 

To  be  shattered  by  the  blast, 
And  to  hear  the  rattling  trumpet 

Thunder,  "Cut  away  the  mast!" 

As  thus  we  sat  in  darkness. 

Each  one  busy  with  his  prayers, 

"We  are  lost!"  the  captain  shouted. 
As  he  stao:o:ered  down  the  stairs. 


•o& 


But  his  little  daughter  whispered 
As  she  took  his  icy  hand, 

"  Isn't  God  upon  the  ocean. 
Just  the  same  as  on  the  land?" 


MISS  FRET  AND  MISS  LAUGH. 

Cries  little  Miss  Fret, 

In  a  very  great  pet, 
"  I  hate  this  warm  weather;  it's  horrid  to  tan. 

It  scorches  my  nose 

And  it  blisters  my  toes. 
And  wherever  I  go  I  must  carry  a  fan." 

Chirps  little  Miss  Laugh: 

"Why  I  couldn't  tell  half 
The  fun  I  am  having  this  bright  summer  day. 

I  sing  through  the  hours, 

I  cull  pretty  flowers. 
And  ride  like  a  queen  on  the  sweet-smelling  hay." 


tommy's  first  speaker.  63 


HOSANNA! 

When  His  salvation  bringing, 

To  Zion  Jesus  came, 
The  children  all  stood  singing 

Hosanna  to  His  name. 
Nor  did  their  zeal  offend  Him, 

But,  as  he  rode  along. 
He  bade  them  still  attend  Him, 

And  smiled  to  hear  their  song. 

And  since  the  Lord  retaineth, 

His  love  for  children  still; 
Though  now,  as  King,  He  reigneth, 

On  Zion's  heavenly  hill. 
We'll  flock  around  Ilis  banner. 

We'll  bow  before  His  throne. 
And  sing  aloud,  Hosanna 

To  David's  royal  Son! 

For  should  we  fail  proclaiming, 

Our  great  Redeemer's  praise. 
The  stones,  our  silence  shaming, 

Would  their  hosannas  raise; 
But  shall  we  only  render 

The  tribute  of  our  words? 
No,  while  our  hearts  are  tender. 

They,  too,  shall  be  the  Lord's. 

Joshua  King,  1819. 


OH,  BLESS  US  ! 

Oh,  bless  us,  we  are  young  and  small, 
Oh,  free  our  hearts  from  sinful  thrall. 
Oh,  make  our  spirits  free  from  sin, 
Thy  fount  of  heavenly  love  within. 


64  tommy's  first  speaker. 


BE    KIND— A    QUARTETTE    FOR    FOUR    LIT- 
TLE CHILDREN. 

[This  piece  should  be  recited  by  four  little  children,  two  boys  and  two  girls. 
They  should  each  have  a  small  bouquet  of  flowers  J 

1.  A  little  girl  recite!^. 

Be  kind  to  thy  father — for  when  thou  wcrt  young, 

Who  loved  thee  so  fondly  as  he? 
He  caught  the  first  accents  that  fell  from  thy  tongue, 

And  joined  in  thy  innocent  glee. 
Be  kind  to  thy  father — for  now  he  is  old, 

His  locks  intermingled  with  gray; 
His  footsteps  are  feeble,  once  fearless  and  bold — 

Thy  father  is  passing  awav. 

2.  A  little  boy  recites. 

Be  kind  to  thy  mother — for  lo!  on  her  brow 

Many  traces  of  sorrow  are  seen; 
Oh,  well  may'st  thou  cherish  and  comfort  her  now. 

For  loving  and  kind  she  has  been. 
Remember  thy  mother — for  thee  will  she  pray, 

As  long  as  God  giveth  her  breath; 
With  accents  of  kindness,  then,  cheer  her  lone  way, 

E'en  through  the  dark  valley  of  death. 

J.  A  little  boy  recites. 

Be  kind  to  thy  sister — not  many  may  know 

The  depth  of  true  sisterly  love; 
The  wealth  of  the  ocean  lies  fathoms  below 

The  surface  that  sparkles  above. 
Thy  kindness  3hall  bring  thee  many  sweet  hours, 

And  blessings  thy  pathway  to  crown, 
Affection  shall  weave  thee  a  garland  of  flowers,. 

More  precious  than  wealth  or  renowiis 


tommy's  first  speaker.  65 


4,  A  little  girl  recites. 


Be  kind  to  thy  brother — his  heart  will  have  dearth, 

If  the  smile  of  thy  joy  be  withdrawn; 
The  flowers  of  feeling  will  fade  at  the  birth, 

If  the  dew  of  affection  be  gone. 
Be  kind  to  thy  brother — wherever  you  are, 

The  love  of  a  brother  shall  be 
An  ornament  purer  and  richer  by  far, 

Than  pearls  from  the  depths  of  the  sea. 


THE  GREEN  HILL  FAR  AWAY. 

There  is  a  green  hill  far  away, 

Without  a  city  wall, 
Where  the  dear  Lord  was  crucified. 

Who  died  to  save  us  all. 

We  may  not  know,  we  cannot  tell 
What  pains  he  had  to  bear. 

But  we  believe  it  was  for  us 
He  hung  and  suffered  there. 

He  died  that  we  might  be  forgiven. 

He  died  to  make  us  good. 
That  we  might  go  at  last  to  heaven. 

Saved  by  His  precious  blood. 

There  was  no  other  good  enough 

To  pay  the  price  of  sin. 
He  only,  could  unlock  the  gate 

Of  heaven,  and  let  us  in. 

O,  dearly,  dearly  has  he  loved, 
And  we  must  love  Him  too. 

And  trust  in  His  redeeming  blood, 
And  try  His  works  to  do. 


66  tommy's  fikst  speaker. 


ANGEL  COURT. 


The  palace  gardens  shone  with  flowers, 

The  long  warm  summer  day; 
A  beggar-child  stood  watching 

The  little  Prince  at  play; 
But  the  guard  who  passed  the  palace  walls 

Would  have  thrust  the  child  away. 
But  the  little  Prince,  he  chid  the  guard — 

"  What  has  she  done?"  said  he; 
"  Our  Father  loves  us  all,"  he  said, 

"  Whatever  we  may  be.'' 

"  Where  do  you  live,  my  little  maid?  " 

"In  Angel  Court,"  said  she; 
"And  it's  all  so  dark:  I  only  came 

Just  once  the  flowers  to  see; 
We  have  no  flowers  in  Angel  Court," 

She  murmured  bitterly. 
But  the  little  Prince  looked  up  to  heaven, 

^'•Tkat  is  our  home,"  said  he; 
"  Our  Father  loves  us  all,"  he  said, 

"  Where'er  on  earth  we  be." 

Tlie  years  went  by;  the  beggar-child 

In  an  Angel  Home  was  blest; 
In  a  distant  land  the  bright  young  Prince 

Was  passing  to  his  rest. 
Far  from  his  home,  and  wife  and  child, 

And  all  he  loved  the  best; 
But  he  turned  and  saw  a  face  he  knew. 

An  angel  at  his  side, 
"Our  Father  loves  us  well,"  she  said. 

And  with  a  smile  he  died. 

Frederic  E.  Weatherly. 


SPEAKER.  67 

WHEN  MAMMA  WAS  A  LITTLE  GIRL. 

Wlien  mamma  was  a  little  girl 

(Or  so  they  say  to  me) 
She  never  used  to  romp  and  run, 
Nor  shout  and  scream  with  noisy  fun, 

Nor  climb  an  apple  tree. 
She  always  kept  her  hair  in  curl, — 
When  mamma  was  a  little  girl. 

When  mamma  was  a  little  girl 

(It  seems  to  her,  you  see) 
She  never  used  to  tumble  down, 
Nor  break  her  doll,  nor  tear  her  gown. 

Nor  drink  her  papa's  tea. 
She  learned  to  knit,  "plain,"  "  seam"  and  "  purl," — 
When  mamma  was  a  little  girl. 

But  grandma  says — it  must  be  true — 

'•  How  fast  the  seasons  o'er  us  whirl! 
Your  mamma,  dear,  was  just  like  you, 

When  she  was  grandma's  little  girl." 

Grace  F.  Coolidge. 


WE  SHALL    KNOW. 

When  the  mists  have  rolled  in  splendor 

From  the  beauty  of  the  hills. 
And  the  sunshine,  warm  and  tender. 

Falls  in  kisses  on  the  rills, 
Wc  may  read  love's  shining  letter 

In  the  rainbow  of  the  spray; 
Wc  shall  know  each  other  better 

When  the  mists  have  cleared  away. 
We  shall  know  as  we  are  known. 
Never  more  to  walk  alone. 
In  the  dawning  of  the  morning. 

When  the  mists  have  cleared  away. 


68  tommy's  first  speaker. 


THE  OLD  ARM  CHAIR. 


I  love  it,  I  love  it,  and  who  shall  dare 

To  chide  me  for  loving  the  old  arm  chair? 

I've  treasured  it  long  as  a  holy  prize, 

I've  bedewed   it   with  tears  and   embalmed   it   v/ith 

sighs, 
'Tis  bound  by  a  thousand  bands  to  my  heart; 
Not  a  tie  will  break,  not  a  link  will  start. 
Would  ye  learn  the  spell.'* — a  mother  sat  there. 
And  a  sacred  thing  is  that  old  arm  chair. 

In  childhood's  home  I  lingered  near 

The  hallow'd  seat  with  listening  ear; 

And  gentle  words  would  mother  give, 

To  fit  me  to  die,  and  teach  me  to  live. 

She  told  me  shame  would  never  betide. 

With  truth  for  my  creed,  and  God  for  my  guide; 

She  taught  me  to  lisp  my  earliest  prayer, 

As  I  knelt  beside  that  old  arm  chair. 

Eliza  Cook. 


THE  BEE  AND  THE  ROSE. 

"  I  hope  you'll  not  accuse  me. 

But  excuse  me," 
Said  the  simple  Bee  to  the  royal  red  Rose, 

"  If  I  take  a  pot  of  honey. 

And  don't  put  down  my  money, 
For  alas!  I  haven't  any,  as  all  the  world  knows." 

"  Mr.  Bee,  don't  worry, 

Nor  be  sorry," 
Said  the  queenly  Rose  to  the  poor  yeoman  Bee; 

"  You've  paid  me  for  my  honey 

Much  better  than  with  money. 
In  the  sweet  songs  of  summer  you  sing  and  sing   to 


tommy's  first  speaker.  09 


HOW  TO  GAIN  FRIENDS. 

"  Well,"  said  a  straight-backed,  straight-legged  chair 
to  a  cosy  little  rocking-chair  by  whose  side  it  had  chanced 
to  be  placed,  "before  I  would  be  such  a  drudge  as  you  are 
I  would  be  a  stool,  or,  if  possible,  something  still  more 
insignificant.  People  are  not  content  with  making  }  ou 
nurse  every  person,  big  or  little,  but  you  must  also  continu- 
ally be  rocking  them  to  and  fro." 

"  To  be  sure,"  answered  the  little  rocking-chair,  pleas- 
antly, "  I  am  always  on  the  go  for  the  gratification  of 
others,  but  thereby  have  I  won  for  myself  many  friends, 
and  appear  to  be  a  great  favorite  with  all.  This  well  re- 
pays me  for  my  trouble." 

And  so  it  is  with  little  girls,  and  little  boys,  and  other 
people.  Those  who  cheerfully  and  willingly  do  for  others 
are  the  ones  who  gain  for  themselves  many  and  lasting 
friends. 


USES  OF  THE  FLOWERS. 

God  might  have  made  the  earth  bring  forth 

Enough  for  great  and  small, — 
The  oak  tree  and  the  cedar  tree 

Without  a  flower  at  all. 

Our  outward  life  requires  them  not,- 

Then  wherefore  had  they  birth? 
To  minister  delight  to  man, 

To  beautify  the  earth : 

To  comfort  man, — to  whisper  hope 

Whene'er  his  faith  is  dim; 
For  Who  so  carcth  for  the  j^owers 

Will  care  much  more  for  /iz'm/ 

Mary  Howitt. 


70  tommy's  first  speaker. 


BABY  LOUISE. 

Pm  in  love  with  you,  Baby  Louise! 
With  your  silken  hair  and  your  soft  blue  eyes, 
And  the  dreamy  wisdom  that  in  them  lies, 
And  the  faint,  sweet  smile  you  brought  from  the  skies — 

God's  sunshine,  Baby  Louise. 

When  you  fold  your  hands,  Baby  Louise, 
"^'our  hands  like  a  fairy's,  so  tiny  and  fair. 
With  a  pretty,  innocent,  saint  like  air. 
Are  you  trying  to  think  of  some  angel  taught  prayer, 

You  learned  above,  Baby  Louise? 

I'm  in  love  with  you.  Baby  Louise, 
Whv!  you  never  raise  your  beautiful  head! 
Some  day,  little  one,  your  cheek  will  grow  red, 
W  ith  a  flush  of  delight,  to  hear  the  words  said, 

"  I  love  you,"  Baby  Louise. 

Do  you  hear  me,  Baby  Louise? 
I  have  sung  your  praises  for  nearly  an  hour. 
And  your  lashes  keep  drooping  lower  and  lower. 
And — you've  gone  to  sleep  like  a  weary  flower. 

Ungrateful  Baby  Louise!     ' 

Margaret  Eytinge. 


GOD  SEES. 


When  1  run  about  all  day. 
When  I  kneel  at  night  to  pray, 
God  sees. 

When  I'm  dreaming  in  the  dark. 
When  I  lie  awake  and  hark, 
God  sees. 

Need  I  ever  know  a  fear, 
Night  and  day  my  Father's  neai- 
God  sees. 


71 


KATYDID. 

I  love  to  hear  thine  earnest  voice, 

Wherever  thou  art  hid, 
Thou  testy  Httle  dogmatist. 

Thou  pretty  Katydid! 
Thou  mindest  me  of  gentlefolks — 

Old  gentlefolks  are  they — 
Thou  say'st  an  undisputed  thing 

In  such  a  solemn  way. 

Thou  art  a  female,  Katydid, 

I  know  it  by  the  trill 
That  quivers  through  thy  piercing  notes, 

So  petulant  and  shrill. 
I  think  there  is  a  knot  of  you 

Beneath  the  hollow  tree, 
A  knot  of  spinster  Katydids — 

Do  Katydids  drink  tea? 

O,  tell  me  where  did  Katy  live, 

And  what  did  Katy  do? 
And  was  she  very  fair  and  voung. 

And  yet  so  wicked,  too? 
Did  Katy  love  a  naughty  man 

Or  kiss  more  cheeks  than  one? 
I  warrant  Katy  did  no  more 

Than  many  a  Kate  has  done. 

Oliver  Wendell  Holmes. 


IT'S  GOOD  TO  HAVE   A   MOTHER. 


Birdies  with  broken  wings, 
Hide  from  each  other, 

But  babies  in  trouble 

Can  run  home  to  mother. 


72  tommy's  first  speaker. 

SUPPOSE. 

Suppose,  my  little  lady, 

Your  doll  should  break  her  head, 
Could  you  make  it  whole  by  crying 

Till  your  eyes  and  nose  are  red? 
And  wouldn't  it  be  pleasanter 

To  treat  it  as  a  joke, 
And  say  you're  glad  'twas  dolly's 

And  not  your  head  that  broke? 

Suppose  you're  dressed  for  walking, 

And  the  rain  comes  pouring  down, 
Will  it  clear  off  any  sooner 

Because  you  scold  and  frown? 
And  wouldn't  it  be  nicer 

For  you  to  smile  than  pout. 
And  so  make  sunshine  in  the  house 

When  there  is  none  without? 

Suppose  your  task,  my  little  man, 

Is  very  hard  to  get, 
Will  it  make  it  any  easier 

For  you  to  sit  and  fret? 
And  wouldn't  it  be  nicer 

Than  waiting  like  a  dunce. 
To  go  to  work  in  earnest 

And  learn  the  thing  at  once? 


THE  LOST  DOLL. 

Twice  up  and  down  the  garden-walks 
I've  looked ;  but  she's  not  there. 

Oh,  yes,  I've  hunted  in  the  hay, 
I've  hunted  everywhere. 

The  dark  is  coming  fast,  oh  dear! 

I'm  in  an  awful  fright; 
I  don't  know  where  I've  left  my  doll, 

And  she'll  be  out  all  night! 


73 


ONE  OF  HIS  NAMES. 


Never  a  boy  had  so  many  names; 
They  called  him  Jimmy,  and  Jim,  and  James, 
Teems  and  Jamie;  and  well  he  knew 
Who  it  was  that  wanted  him,  too. 

The  boys  in  the  street  ran  after  him, 
Shouting  out  loudly,  "Jim!  hey,  J-i-m  m!" 
Uniil  the  echoes,  little  and  big. 
Seemed  to  be  dancing  a  Jim  Crow  jig. 

And  little  Mabel,  out  in  the  hall, 
"Jimwj/  Jimwy/"  would  sweetly  call. 
Until  he  answered  and  let  her  know 
Where  she  might  find  him;  she  loved  him  so. 

Grandpapa,  who  was  dignified. 

And  held  his  head  with  an  air  of  pride. 

Didn't  believe  in  abridging  names. 

And  made  the  most  he  could  of  "J-a-m-e-s!" 

But  if  papa  ever  wanted  him. 
Crisp  and  curt  was  the  summons — "Jim!" 
That  would  make  the  boy  on  his  errantls  run 
Much  faster  than  if  he  had  said  "  my  son." 

Biddy  O'Flynn  could  never  it  seems. 
Call  him  anything  else  but  "Jeems;" 
And  when  the  nurse,  old  Mrs.  McVyse, 
Called  him  "Jamie,"  it  sounded  nice. 

But  sweeter  and  dearer  than  all  the  rest, 

Was  the  one  pet  name  he  liked  the  best; 

"  Darling!"  he  heard  it  whate'er  he  was  at, 

For  none  hut  his  mother  called  him  that. 

Josephine  Pollard. 


74  tommy's  first  speaker. 


A  THANKSGIVING  ODE. 

For  Summer's  bloom  and  Autumn's  blight, 
For  bending  wheat  and  blasted  maize, 

For  health  and  sickness,  Lord  of  Light, 
And  Lord  of  Darkness,  hear  our  praise! 

We  trace  to  Thee  our  joys  and  woes — 
To  Thee,  of  causes  still  the  cause — 

We  thank  Thee  that  Thy  hand  bestows; 
We  bless  Thee  that  Thy  love  withdraws. 

We  bring  no  sorrows  to  Thy  throne; 

We  come  to  Thee  with  no  complaint; 
In  Providence  Thy  will  is  done. 

And  that  is  sacred  to  the  saint. 


Dr.  Holland. 


UPSIDE  DOWN. 


If  all  the  world  were  upside  down, 

Our  lilies  would  be  stars  so  gay, 

Our  brooks  would  make  the  milky  way, 

And  roses  of  the  richest  dye 

Would  be  the  pretty  sunset  sky ; 
Instead  of  blue,  the  sky'd  be  brown — 
If  all  the  world  were  upside  down. 

If  all  the  world  were  upside  down, 

The  moon  would  take  the  ocean's  place. 
And  stars  the  fields  and  gardens  grace; 
The  ground,  of  course,  would  be  sky  blue; 
Another  change  would  be  quite  new — 

We'd  wear  our  shoes  upon  our  crown 

If  all  the  world  were  upside  down. 

George  Cooper. 


75 


THE  BOY  I  LOVE. 

My  boy,  do  you  know  the  boy  I  love? 

I  fancy  I  see  bini  now; 
His  forehead  bare  in  the  sweet  spring  air, 
With  the  wind  of  hope  in  his  waving  hair, 

With  sunrise  on  his  brow. 

He  is  something  near  your  height,  may  be, 

And  just  about  your  years; 
Timid  as  you;  but  his  will  is  strong, 
And  his  love  of  right  and  his  hate  of  wrong 

Are  mightier  than  his  fears. 

He  has  the  courage  of  simple  truth, 

Tlie  trial  that  he  must  bear; 
The  peril,  the  ghost  that  frights  him  most. 
He  faces  boldly,  and  like  a  ghost 

It  vanishes  in  air. 

As  wild  fowl  take,  by  river  and  lake, 

The  sunshine  and  the  rain, 
With  cheerful,  constant  hardihood, 
He  meets  the  bad  luck  and  the  good, 

The  pleasure  and  the  pain. 


BABY  IS  A  SAILOR. 

Baby  is  a  sailor  boy. 

Swing,  cradle,  swing; 
Sailing  is  the  sailor's  joy. 

Swing,  cradle,  swing. 

Snowy  sails  and  precious  freight. 

Swing,  cradle,  swing. 
Baby's  captain,  mother's  mate, 

Swing,  cradle,  swing. 


76  tommy's  first  speaker. 


HOE  YOUR  OWN  ROW. 


I  think  there  are  some  maxims 

Under  the  sun 
Scarce  worth  preservation; 

But  here,  boys,  is  one 
So  sound  and  so  simple 

'Tis  worth  while  to  know — 
And  all  in  the  single  line, 

"  Hoe  your  own  row!" 

If  you  want  to  have  riches, 

And  want  to  have  friends, 
Don't  trample  the  means  down 

And  look  for  the  ends; 
But  always  remember. 

Wherever  you  go 
The  wisdom  of  practising 

"  Hoe  your  own  row !" 


EGGS  AND  BIRDS. 

"Where  is  the    little  lark's  nest, 

My  father  showed  to  me? 
And  where  the  pretty  lark's  eggs?" 

Said  Master  Lori  Lee. 
At  last  he  found  the  lark's  nest, 

But  eggs  were  none  to  see. 

"  Why  are  you  looking  down  there?' 
Sang  two  young  larks  on  high: 

"We've  broke  the  shells  that  held  us, 
And  found  a  nest  on  high." 

And  the  happy  birds  went  singing 
Far  up  the  morning  sky! 


FIRST    SPEAKER.  77 


FANNY'S  MUD  PIES. 

Under  the  apple-trees,  spreading  and  thick, 
Happy  with  only  a  pan  and  a  stick, 
On  the  soft  grass  in  the  meadow  that  lies, 
Our  little  Fanny  is  making  mud  pies. 

On  her  bright  apron,  and  bright  drooping  head; 
Showers  of  pink  and  white  blossoms  are  shed; 
Tied  to  a  branch,  that  seems  just  meant  for  that, 
Dances  and  flutters  her  little  straw  hat. 

Gravely  she  stirs,  with  a  serious  look, 
Making  believe  she's  a  true  pastry  cook; 
Sundry  brown  plashes  on  forehead  and  eyes 
Show  that  our  Fanny  is  making  mud  pies. 

But  all  the  soil  of  her  innocent  play 

Clean  soap  and  water  will  soon  wash  away; 

Many  a  pleasure  in  daintier  guise 

Leaves  darker  traces  than  Fanny's  mud  pies. 

Dash,  full  of  joy  in  the  bright  summer  day. 
Zealously  chases  the  robins  away, 
Barks  at  the  squirrels,  or  snaps  at  the  flies. 
All  the  while  Fanny  is  making  mud  pies. 

Sunshine  and  soft  summer  breezes  astir, 
While  she  is  busy,  are  busy  with  her, — 
Cheeks  rosy  glowing,  and  bright  sparkling  eyes. 
Bring  they  to  Fanny  while  making  mud  pies. 

Dollies  and  playthings  are  all  laid  away. 
Not  to  come  out  till  the  next  rainy  day; 
Under  the  blue  of  those  sweet  summer  skies 
Nothing  so  pleasant  as  making  mud  pies. 

Ei>izABETH  Sill. 


78 


MORNING  HYMN. 

My  God,  who  makes  the  sun  to  know 

His  proper  hour  to  rise, 
And,  to  give  light  to  all  below, 

Doth  send  him  round  the  skies. 

When  from  the  chambers  of  the  east 

His  morning  race  begins. 
He  never  tires,  nor  stops  to  rest, 

But  round  the  world  he  shines. 

So,  like  the  sun,  may  I  fulfill 

The  business  of  the  day; 
Begin  my  work  betimes,  and  still 

March  on  my  heavenly  way. 

Give  me,  O  Lord,  Thy  early  grace; 

Nor  let  my  soul  complain. 
That  the  young  morning  of  my  days 

Has  all  been  spent  in  vain. 

Isaac  Watts,  1715. 


TWELVE  GOLDEN  RULES  FOR  BOYS. 

Observe  good  manners. 
Hold  integrity  sacred. 
Endure  trials  patiently. 
Be  prompt  in  all  things. 
Make  good  acquaintances. 
Dare  to  do  right,  fear  to  do  wrong. 
Never  be  afraid  of  being  laughed  at. 
Watch  carefully  over  your  temper. 
Fight  life's  battle  manfully,  bravely. 
Sacrifice  money  rather  than  principle. 
Use  your  leisure  moments  for  study. 
Shun  the  company  of  loafers. 


tommy's  first  speaker.  79 


SILOAM'S  SHADY  RILL. 

By  cool  Siloam's  shady  rill, 

How  sweet  the  lily  grows; 
How  sweet  the  breath  beneath  the  hill 

Of  Sharon's  dewy  rose! 

And  such  the  child,  whose  early  feet 
The  paths  of  peace  have  trod; 

Whose  secret  heart  with  influence  sweet 
Is  upward  drawn  to  God. 

By  cool  Siloam's  shady  rill, 

The  lily  must  decay; 
The  rose  that  blooms  beneath  the  hill 

Must  shortly  fade  away ; 

And  soon,  too  soon,  the  wintry  hour 

Of  man's  maturer  age 
May  shake  the  soul  with  sorrow's  power, 

And  stormy  passions  rage. 


THE  BEST  THING  IN  THE  WORLD. 

What's  the  best  thing  in  the  world? 

June-rose,  by  May-dew  impearled; 

Sweet  south  wind,  that  means  no  rain; 

Truth,  not  cruel  to  a  friend ; 

Pleasure,  not  in  haste  to  end; 

Beauty,  not  self-decked  and  curled 

Till  its  pride  is  over- plain; 

Light,  that  never  makes  you  wink;  ' 

Memory,  that  gives  no  pain; 

Love,  when,  so^  you're  loved  again. 

What's  the  best  thing  in  the  world? — 

Something  out  of  it,  I  think. 

Anonymous. 


80  tommy's  pirst  speaker. 


SONG  OF  SPRING. 

Laud  the  first  spring  daisies; 
Chant  aloud  their  praises; 
Send  the  children  up 
To  the  hill's  high  top; 

Tax  not  the  strength  of  their  young  hands 
To  increase  your  lands. 
Gather  the  primroses, 
Make  handfuls  into  posies; 

Take  them  to  the  little  girls  who  are  at  work  in  mills; 
Pluck  the  violets  blue — 
Ah!  pluck  not  a  few! 

Knowest  thou  what  good  thoughts  from  Heaven  the 
violet  instills? 

Give  the  children  holidays 

(And  let  these  be  jolly  days), 

Grant  freedom  to  the  children  in  this  joyous  spring; 

Better  men,  hereafter, 

Shall  we  have,  for  laughter 

Freely  shouted  to  the  woods  till  all  the  echoes  ring. 

Send  the  children  up 

To  the  high  hill's  top. 

Or  deep  into  the  wood's  recesses, 

To  woo  spring's  caresses. 

J.  L.  YouL. 


MORNING  PRAYER. 

O  Thou  who  mak'st  the  sun  to  rise, 
Beam  on  my  soul,  illume  mine  eyes, 

And  guide  me  through  this  world  of  care : 
The  wandering  atom  thou  canst  see. 
The  falling  sparrow's  marked  by  thee. 
Then,  turning  Mercy's  ear  to  me. 
Listen!  listen! 

Listen  to  an  infant's  prayer! 


FIRST    SPEAKER.  81 


THE  TENDER  SHEPHERD, 

Jesus,  tender  Shepherd,  hear  me: 

Bless  Thy  little  lamb  to-ni<]^ht; 
Through  the  darkness  be  thou  near  me, 

Keep  me  safe  till  morning  light. 

Through  this  day  Thy  hand  hath  led  me. 

And  I  thank  1  hee  tor  Thy  care; 
Thou  hast  warmed  me,  clothed  and  fed  me, 

Listen  to  my  evening  prayer. 

Let  my  sins  be  all  forgiven,  ^ 

Bless  the  friends  I  love  so  well; 
Take  me,  when  I  die,  to  Heaven, 

Happy  there  with  Thee  to  dwell. 

Mary  L.  Du.vcan,  1830. 


WHAT    BOYS   ARE  GOOD  FOR. 

[The  teacher  or  examiner  should  ask  the  question  of  the  hrsl  and  second  lines, 
and  !>omc  merry  little  boy  should  respond.] 

Question  : 

What  are  you  good  for,  my  brave  little  man.^ 
Answer  that  question  for  me  if  you  can. — 


Answer: 

Over  the  carpet  the  dear  little  feet 
Come  with  a  patter  to  climb  on  my  seat; 
Two  merry  eyes  full  of  frolic  and  glee. 
Under  their  lashes  looked  up  unto  me; 
Two  little  hands,  pressing  soft  on  my  face, 
Drew  me  down  close  in  a  loving  embrace; 
Two  rosy  lips  gave  the  answer  so  true, 
**  Good  to  love  you,  mamma, — good  to  love  you.'* 
Emily  Huntington  Miller. 


82  tommy's  first  speaker. 


YOUTHFU-L    PIETY. 

Ye  hearts  with  youthful  vigor  warm 
In  smiHng  crowds  draw  near: 

And  turn  from  every  mortal  charm, 
A  Savior's  voice  to  hear. 

He,  Lord  of  all  the  worlds  on  high, 
Stoops  to  converse  with  you; 

And  lays  His  radiant  glories  by, 
Your  friendship  to  pursue. 

"  The  soul  that  longs  to  see  My  face. 

Is  sure  My  love  to  gain: 
And  those  that  early  seek  My  grace. 


What  object,  Lord,  my  soul  should  move, 

If  once  compared  with  Thee? 
What  beauty  should  command  my  love, 

Like  what  in  Christ  I  see? 

Away,  ye  false  delusive  toys. 

Vain  tempters  of  the  mmd ! 
'Tis  here  1  fix  my  lasting  choice. 

And  here  true  bliss  I  find. 

Philip  Doddridge,  1755. 


DO  GOOD. 

Do  all  the  good  you  can. 
In  all  the  ways  you  can. 
To  all  the  people  you  can, 
Just  as  long  as  you  can, 


tommy's  first  speaker.  83 


THE  VIOLET. 

Down  in  a  green  and  shady  bed 

A  modest  violet  grew; 
Its  stalk  was  bent,  it  hung  its  head, 

As  if  to  hide  from  view. 

And  yet  it  was  a  lovely  flower, 

Its  colors  bright  and  fair; 
It  might  have  graced  a  rosy  bower 

Instead  of  hiding  there. 

Yet  there  it  was  content  to  bloom, 

In  modest  tints  arrayed; 
And  there  diffused  its  sweet  perfume 

Within  the  silent  glade. 

Then  let  me  to  the  valley  go, 

This  pretty  flower  to  see, 
That  I  may  also  learn  to  grow 

In  sweet  humility. 

Jane  Taylor. 


LITTLE  TYRANT. 

Let  every  sound  be  dead; 

Baby  sleeps. 
The  Emperor  softly  tread! 

Baby  sleeps. 
Let  Mozart's  music  stop! 
Let  Phidias'  chisel  drop! 

Baby  sleeps. 
Demosthenes  be  dumb! 
Our  tyrant's  hour  has  come! 

Baby  sleeps. 


84  tommy's  first  speaker. 


A  LITTLE  GIRL. 

Where  have  they  gone  to — the  httle  girls, 
With  natural  manners  and  natural  curls? 
Who  love  their  dollies  and  like  their  toys, 
And  talk  of  something  besides  the  boys? 

Little  old  women  in  plenty  I  find, 
Mature  in  manners  and  old  of  mind : 
Little  old  flirts  who  talk  of  their  "  beaux  " 
And  vie  with  each  other  in  stylish  clothes. 

Little  old  belles,  who  at  nine  and  ten 
Are  sick  of  pleasure  and  tired  of  men. 
Weary  of  travel,  of  balls,  of  fun — 
And  find  no  new  thing  under  the  sun. 

Once,  in  the  beautiful  long  ago, 
Some  dear  little  children  I  used  to  know; 
Girls  who  were  merry  as  lambs  at  play. 
And  laughed  and  rollicked  the  livelong  day. 

They  thought  not  at  all  of  the  style  of  their  clothes, 
And  never  imagined  that  boys  were  "beaux" — 
"Other  girls' brothers"  and  "mates"  were  they; 
Splendid  fellows  to  help  them  at  play. 

Where  have  they  gone  to?     If  you  see 
One  of  them  anywhere,  send  her  to  me. 
I  would  give  a  medal  of  purest  gold 
To  one  of  those  dear  little  girls  of  old. 
With  an  innocent  heart  and  an  open  smile. 
Who  knows  not  the  meaning  of  "  flirt "  or  "  style." 

Ei.LA  Wheeler. 


FROWNS  AND  SNEERS. 

Foolish  things  are  frowns  and  sneers, 
For  angry  thoughts  reveal  them, 

Rather  drown  them  all  in  tears, 
Than  let  another  feel  them, 


tommy's  first  speakek.  85 


A  LITTLE  BOY. 

Where  have  they  gone  to — the  little  boys, 
With  natural  manners  and  natural  joys? 
Who  cherish  their  youth — at  least  till  they're  ten, 
And  wait  for  their  manhood  ere  playing  at  men? 

Little  old  men  in  plenty  I  find. 

Boorish  in  manners  and  sensual  in  mind: 

Who  express  great  contempt  for  "  only  a  girl," 

Spending  hours  on  a  mustache  too  honest  to  curl. 

Little  old  beaux  with  gloves  and  a  cane, 

Aping  their  elders,  their  manners,  their  mien; 

Little  old  fops,  incipient  dudes. 

Who  already  suffer  from  ''states"  and  from  "moods." 

Once,  in  the  beautiful  long  ago, 
There  were  little  boys  I  used  to  know. 
Kind  in  their  manners,  real  boys  in  their  play, 
Who  whistled  and  frolicked  the  livelong  day. 

Who  liked  the  girls  because  they  were  "  mates" — 
Girls  who  ran  races  and  climbed  high  gates — 
Who  never  said,  "  Oh,  only  girls,  don't  you  know?" 
Or  "  this  is  the  fashion,"  or  this  is  the  "  go." 

Oh,  where  are  these  dear  little  gentlemen  now? 
Could  I  find  one  I'd  give  him  a  bow: 
I  would  place  on  his  forehead  a  crown  of  pure  gold. 
And  a  gem  hilted  sword  in  his  right  hand  to  hold. 
I  would  place  him  then  on  a  beautiful  throne. 
And  call  all  the  children  their  king  to  own. 

Mattie  E.  Merriam, 


tommy's  first  speaker. 

MY  MOTHER'S    HYMN. 

Like  patient  saint  of  olden  time, 

With  lovely  face,  almost  divine, 

So  good,  so  beautiful  and  fair, 

Her  very  attitude  a  prayer; 

I  heard  her  sing  so  low  and  sweet, 

**  His  loving  kindness — oh,  how  great!'* 

Turning,  beheld  the  saintly  face. 

So  full  of  trust  and  patient  grace. 

"  He  justly  claims  a  song  from  me. 

His  loving  kindness — oh,  how  free!" 

Sweetly  thus  did  run  the  song, 

"^His  loving  kindness,"  all  day  long; 

Trusting,  praising,  day  by  day, 

She  sang  the  sweetest  roundelay, 

"  He  near  my  soul  has  always  stood. 

His  loving  kindness — oh,  h'ow  good! 

He  safely  leads  my  soul  along. 

His  loving  kindness — oh,  how  strong!" 

So  strong  to  lead  her  on  the  way 

To  that  eternal  better  day, 

Where  safe  at  last  in  that  blest  home 

All  care  and  weariness  are  gone. 

She  "  sings  with  rapture  and  surprise 

His  loving  kindness  in  the  skies." 


WORK  AND  PLAY, 

Work  while  you  work,  play  while  you  play; 
This  is  the  way  to  be  cheerful  and  gay. 
All  that  you  do,  do  with  your  might; 
Things  done  by  halves  are  never  done  right. 

One  thing  each  time,  and  that  done  well. 
Is  a  very  good  rule,  as  many  can  tell: 
Moments  are  useless,  trifled  away; 
So  work  while  you  work,  and  play  while  you  play. 

Miss  M.  A.  Stodart. 


TOMMY  S    KIRbT    SPEAKER. 


MAMIE'S  REQUEST. 

Dear  rain,  without  your  help,  I  know, 
Tlie  trees  and  flowers  coukl  not  grow, 
My  roses  all  would  fade  and  die 
If  you  staid  up  behnid  the  sky! 

But  lonely  little  girls  like  me 
Don't  like  to  stay  indoors,  you  see. 
And  through  the  long  and  lonesome  day- 
I'm  tired  of  books,  I'm  tired  of  play; 

I'm  tired  of  listening  to  the  sound, 
Of  pattering  drops  upon  the  ground. 
And  watching  througi)  the  misty  pane 
The  clouded  skies,  O  dreary  rain! 

And  so  I  wish  you'd  tell  me  why. 
Just  to  please  me,  you  couldn't  try 
To  let  the  bright  sun  shine  all  day. 
And  in  the  night,  when  he's  away. 

And  all  the  world  is  dark  and  still. 
And  I'm  asleep — M^«,  if  you  will. 
Come  down  and  make  my  flowers  grow, 
Dear  rain,  and  I  will  love  you  so. 


SNOWED  UNDER. 

Of  a  thousand  things,  that  the  Year  snowed  under — 

The  busy  Old  Year  that  has  gone  away — 
IIow  many  will  rise  in  the  spring,  I  wonder, 

i^rought  to  life  by  the  sun  of  May. 
Will  the  rose-tree  branches  so  wholly  hidden. 

That  never  a  rose  tree  seems  to  be. 
At  the  sweet  spring's  call  come  forth  unbidden 

And  bud  in  beauty  and  bloom  for  me? 

Ella  Wjieelek. 


88  tommy's  first  speaker. 


SOME  OF  THE  CHILDREN. 

A  is  for  Apt  little  Annie, 

Who  lives  down  in  Maine  with  her  grannie, 

Such  pies  she  can  make! 

And  such  doughnuts  and  cake! 
Oh,  we  like  to  make  visits  to  grannie. 

C  is  for  Curious  Charlie, 

Wlio  lives  on  rice,  oatmeal  and  barley. 

He  once  wrote  a  sonnet 

On  his  mother's  best  bonnet, 
And  he  lets  his  hair  grow  long  and  snarley 

D  is  for  Dear  little  Dinah, 

Whose  manners  grow  finer  and  finer. 

She  smiles  and  she  bows 

To  the  pigs  and  the  cows, 
And  she  calls  the  old  cat  Angelina. 

G  is  for  Glad  little  Gustave, 

Who  says  that  a  monkey  he  must  have; 

But  his  mother  thinks  not, 

And  says  that  they've  got 
All  the  monkey  they  care  for  in  Gustave. 

I  is  for  Ignorant  Ida, 

Who  doesn't  know  rhubarb  from  cider. 
Once  she  drank  up  a  quart 
Which  was  more  than  she  ought, 

And  it  gave  her  queer  feelings  inside  her 

M  is  for  Mournful  Miss  Molly, 
Who  likes  to  be  thought  melancholy. 

She's  as  limp  as  a  rag 

When  her  sisters  play  tag, 
For  it's  vulgar,  she  says,  to  be  jolly. 


tommy's  first   speak kr. 

N  is  for  Naughty  younp^  Nat, 
Who  sat  on  his  father's  best  hat. 

When  they  asked  if  he  thought 

He  had  done  as  he  ought, 
He  said  he  supposed  'twas  the  cat. 

O's  Operatic  Olivia, 

Who  visits  her  aunt  in  Bolivia. 

She  can  sing  to  high  C — 

But,  between  you  and  me. 
They  don't  care  for  that  in  Bolivia. 

P  is  for  Poor  little  Paul, 
Who  doesn't  like  study  at  all. 

But  he's  learning  to  speak 

In  Hebrew  and  Greek, 
And  is  going  to  take  Sanskrit  next  fall. 

V  is  for  Valiant  young  Vivian, 
Who  practiced  awhile  in  oblivion; 

Till  he  saw  without  doubt. 

He  could  turn  inside  out. 
And  now  they're  all  boasting  of  Vivian. 

Isabel  Frances  Bellows. 


BE  PATIENT. 

Every  lily  in  the  meadow 

Waits  in  patience  for  the  rain. 

Every  daisy  in  the  shadow 

Waits  till  sunshine  comes  again; 

Every  birdie  in  its  home  nest 

Waits  for  food,  nor  waits  in  vain. 

Dearest  Saviour,  it  is  written, 
"Be  ye  patient"  in  Thy  word; 

Make  me  patient  as  the  lily. 
Or  the  daisy,  or  the  bird. 

Give  me.  Lord,  Thy  loving  spirit, 
Never  by  impatience  stirred! 


90  TOMMY  S    FIRST    SIMwXKKK. 

NOW. 

"There  is  a  good  time  coming,  hoys," 
So  runs  the  hopeful  song; 

Such  is  the  poetry  of  youth, 
When  Hfe  and  hope  are  strong. 

But  when  these  buoyant  days  are  passed 
Age  cries:   "How  changed  are  men! 

Thinsrs  were  not  so  when  1  was  young; 


Tlie  best  of  times  was  then. 


''There  is  a  good  time  coming,  boys"; 

The  truth  we  will  allow; 
But,  waiting  not  for  brighter  days, 

There  is  a  good  time  now. 
Why  not  improve  the  present,  then, 

Where'er  the  future  lead; 
And  let  each  passing  moment's  page 

Bear  proof  of  thought  and  deed  ? 

"  There  is  a  good  time  coming,  bojs"; 

And  many  a  one  has  passed; 
For  each  has  had  his  own  good  time, 

And  will  have  to  the  last. 
Then  do  thy  work  while  lingers  youth, 

With  freshness  on  its  brow, 
Still  mindful  of  life's  greatest  truth, 

The  best  of  times  is  now. 


THE  BUSY  MULE. 

How  doth  the  little  busy  mule 

Toil  patiently  all  day, 

And  switch  his  tail,  and  elevate 

His  lofty  ears,  and  bray. 

How  doth  his  eye,  with  drowsy  gleam. 

Let  naught  escape  his  ken, 

But  when  he  elevates  his  heels 

Where  is  the  driver  then.? 


tommy's    iMKSr    SPKAKI.K.  91 


FUNNY,  ISN'T  IT? 

The  pipers  are  not  made  of  pipes, 

And  cowards  are  not  made  of  cows; 
And  lyres  are  not  made  of  lies, 

While  bowers  are  not  made  of  bows. 
The  wickets  are  not  made  of  wicks, 

And  candles  are  not  made  of  cans; 
And  tickets  are  not  made  of  ticks, 

While  panels  are  not  made  of  pans. 
The  cattle  are  not  made  of  cats, 

While  willows  are  not  made  of  wills, 
And  battles  are  not  made  of  bats. 

And  pilgrims  not  miule  of  grim  pills, 
The  cornets  are  not  made  of  corns, 

A  hotel  is  not  made  of  a  hoe; 
And  hornets  are  not  made  of  horns, 

While  all  poets  cannot  be  Foe. 


CHRISTMUS   COMIN'. 

Christmus  coming  Christmus  comin', 
In  de  air  it  soun's  a  hummin'; 
I  got  Christmus  in  my  bones, 
Nigger  fer  de  turkey  hones. 
Wish  1  was  down  at  camp  meetin', 
Whar  de  righteous   fokes  is  greetin'. 
Master  tell  me  hoe  de  taters. 
White  fokes  got  such  cuyus  naters. 
Nebber  mind,  de  sun  is  high, 
Mornin'  comin'  by- an'- by. 
In  white  shirt  an'  lay-down  collar, 
Lazy  nigger  jump  an'  holler. 
Crack  his  fingers,  hoopin',  dancin', 
Yaller  gals  all  come  out  prancin', 
Mistiss  giv'  'em  plenty  new 
Dresses  red  an'  dresses  blue. 
Turn  yo'  toes  out,  walk  in  line, 
Satan  see  yo  all  de  time. 


92  tommy's  first  speaker. 


Settin'  watchin'  for  de  sinner. 
Had  six  hundiid  fer  one  dinner. 
Glory,  hallelujah  high, 
Jesus  comin'  by-an'-by. 
Christmus  comin'  in  de  mornin', 
Onct  a  year  dat  day  be  dawnin'. 
Sinner  come  an'  git  yo  whippin'. 
Whisky  jug  yo  done  been  sippin'. 
Kan't  vo  wait  till  day  is  ober? 
When  yo  ken  lay  down  in  clober, 
Kick  yo  heels,  an'  walk  in  pride, 
Eat  an'  drink  an'  swell  yo  side. 


PLANTING  HIMSELF    TO  GROW 

Dear  little  bright-eyed  Willie, 

Always  so  full  of  glee. 
Always  so  very  mischievous, 

The  pride  of  our  home  is  he. 

One  bright  summer  day  we  found  him 

Close  by  the  garden  wall, 
Standing  so  grave  and  dignified 

Beside  a  sunflower  tall. 

His  tiny  feet  he  had  covered 

With  the  moist  and  cooling  sand; 

The  stalk  of  the  great,  tall  sunflower 
He  grasped  with  his  chubby  hand. 

When  he  saw  us  standing  near  him, 

Gazing  so  wonderingly 
At  his  baby  ship,  he  greeted  us 

With  a  merry  shout  of  glee. 

We  asked  our  darling  what  pleased  him; 

He  replied  with  a  face  aglow, 
"  Mamma,  I'm  going  to  be  a  man: 

Pve  planted  myself  to  grow^'' 


tommy's  first  speaker.  •  93 


A  MANLY,  LOVING  BOY. 

He  walks  beside  his  mother, 

And  looks  up  in  her  face 
With  a  glow  of  loving,  joyous  pride 

And  a  truly  royal  grace; 
He  proudly  waits  upon  her — 

Would  shield  her  without  fear. 
The  boy  who  loves  his  mother  well, 

Her  little  cavalier. 

To  see  no  tears  of  sorrow 

Upon  her  loving  cheek. 
To  gain  her  sweet  approving  smile, 

To  hear  her  softly  speak — 
Ah,  what  in  all  this  wide,  wide  world 

Could  be  to  him  so  dear. 
The  boy  who  loves  his  mother  well. 

Her  little  cavalier? 

Look  for  that  boy  in  the  future 

Among  the  good  and  true; 
All  blessings  on  the  upward  way 

His  feet  shall  still  pursue! 
Of  robed  and  crowned  and  sceptered  kings 

He  stands  the  royal  peer. 
The  boy  who  loves  his  mother  well, 

Her  noble  cavalier. 


AN  OLD  HEN. 


An  old  hen  sat  on  turtle's  eggs. 

And  she  hatched  out  goslings  three; 

Two  were  turkeys  with  slender  legs. 
And  one  was  a  bumble  bee. 

"Very  odd  children  for  such  a  mother!" 
Said  all  the  hens  to  one  another. 

M.  M.  D. 


94  tommy's  first  speaker. 


HEALTH  ALPHABET. 

As  soon  as  you're  up  shake  blanket  and  sheet; 

Better  be  without  shoes  than  sit  with  wet  feet, 

Children,  if  healthy,  are  active,  not  still; 

Damp  beds  and  damp  clothes  will  both  make  you  ill. 

Eat  slowly,  and  always  chew  your  food  well; 

Freshen  the  air  in  the  house  where  you  dwell, 

Garments  must  never  be  made  too  tight; 

Homes  should  be  healthy,  airy  and  light. 

If  you  wish  to  be  well,  as  you  do,  I've  no  doubt. 

Just  open  the  windows  before  you  go  out. 

Keep  your  rooms  always  tidy  and  clean; 

Let  dust  on  furniture  never  be  seen. 

Much  illness  is  caused  by  the  want  of  pure  air; 

Now  to  open  the  windows  be  ever  your  care. 

Old  rags  and  old  rubbish  should  never  be  kept; 

People  should  see  that  their  floors  are  well  swept. 

Quick  movements  in  children  are  healthy  and  right; 

Remember  the  young  cannot  thrive  without  light. 

See  that  the  cistern  is  clean  to  the  brim; 

Take  care  that  your  dress  is  all  tidy  and  trim. 

Use  your  nose  to  find  if  there  be  a  bad  drain ; 

Very  sad  are  the  fevers  that  come  in  its  train. 

Walk  as  much  as  you  can  without  feeling  fatigue: 

Xerxes  could  walk  full  many  a  league. 

Your  health  is  your  wealth,  which  your  wisdom  must  keep; 

Zeal  will  help  a  good  cause,  and  the  good  you  will  reap. 


TAKE  CARE. 


Little  children,  you  must  seek 
Rather  to  be  good  than  wise, 

For  the  thoughts  you  do  not  speak 
Shine  out  in  your  cheeks  and  eyes, 


95 


If  you  think  that  you  can  be 

Cross  or  cruel,  and  look  fair, 
Let  me  tell  you  how  to  see 

You  are  quite  mistaken  there. 

Go  and  stand  before  the  glass, 
And  some  ugly  thought  contrive, 

And  my  word  will  come  to  pass. 
Just  as  sure  as  you're  alive! 

What  you  have  and  what  you  lack, 
All  the  same  as  what  you  wear. 

You  will  see  reflected  back, 
So,  my  little  folks,  take  care! 

And  not  only  in  the  glass 

Will  your  secrets  come  to  view. 

All  beholders,  as  they  pass. 

Will  perceive  and  know  them,  too. 

Out  of  sight,  my  boys  and  girls. 

Every  root  of  beauty  starts; 
So  think  less  about  your  curls. 

More  about  your  mind  and  hearts. 

Cherish  what  is  good,  and  drive 

Evil  thoughts  and  feelings  far; 
For,  as  sure  as  you're  alive. 

You  will  show  for  what  you  are. 

Alice  Cary. 


BABY. 

Who  is  it  coos  just  like  a  dove? 
Who  is  it  that  we  dearly  love  — 
The  bri«rhtest  blessing  from  above? 

Our  baby. 

While  silent  watch  the  angels  keep. 
Who  smiles  so  sweetly  in  his  sleep. 
And  oft  displays  his  dimples  deep? 

Our  baby. 


96  tommy's  first  speaker. 

WHO  MADE  THEM? 

Mother,  who  make  the  stars  which  light 

The  beautiful  blue  sky? 
Who  made  the  moon  so  clear  and  bri'yht, 

That  rises  up  so  high? 

"  'Twas  God,  my  child,  the  glorious  One — 
He  formed  them  by  His  power; 
He  made  alike  the  brilliant  sun 
And  every  leaf  and  flower. 

"  He  made  your  little  feet  to  walk, 
Your  sparkling  eyes  to  see, 
Your  busy,  prattling  tongue  to  talk, 
Your  limbs  so  light  and  free. 

"  He  paints  each  fragrant  flower  that  glows 
With  loveliness  and  bloom; 
He  gives  the  violet  and  the  rose 
Their  beauty  and  perfume. 

"  Our  various  wants  His  hands  supply, 
And  guard  us  every  hour; 
We're  kept  beneath  His  watchful  eye, 
And  guided  by  His  power. 

'*  Then  let  your  little  heart,  my  love, 
Its  grateful  homage  pay 
To  this  kind  Friend,  who,  from  above, 
So  gently  guides  your  way." 


HOBBLEDY  HOPS. 

Hobbledy  Hops, 
He  made  some  tops 

Out  of  the  morning  glory  i 
He  used  the  seed, — 
He  did,  indeed; 

And  that's  the  end  of  my  story. 


TOMMY  S    FIRST     SPEAKER.  97 


A  BABY'S  FEET  AND  HANDS. 

A  baby's  feet,  like  sea-shells  pink, 

Might  tempt,  should  heaven  see  meet, 
An  angel's  lips  to  kiss,  we  think, 
A  baby's  feet. 

Like  rose-hued  sea-flowers  toward  the  heat 
They  stretch  and  spread  and  wink; 

Their  ten  soft  buds  that  part  and  meet, 
No  flower-bells  that  expand  and  shrink 

Gleam  half  so  heavenly  sweet 

As  shine  on  life's  untrodden  brink, 
A  baby's  feet. 

A  baby's  hands,  like  rose-buds  furled. 

Whence  yet  no  leaf  expands,  ^ 

Ope  if  you  touch,  though  close  upcurledp 
A  baby's  hands. 

Then  fast  as  warriors  grip  their  brands 

When  battle's  bolt  is  hurled, 
They  close,  clenched  hard  like  tightening  bands. 

No  rosebuds  yet  by  dawn  impearled 
Match,  even  in  loveliest  lands. 

The  sweetest  flowers  in  all  the  world — 
A  baby's  hands. 


THE  BUMBLE  BEE. 

The  bumble-bee,  the  bumble-bee. 
He  flew  to  the  top  of  the  tulip  tree; 
He  flew  to  the  top,  but  he  could  not  stop. 
For  he  had  to  get  home  to  his  early  tea. 

The  bumble-bee,  the  bumble-bee. 

He  flew  away  from  the  tulip  tree; 

But  he  made  a  mistake  and  flew  into  the  lake, 

And  he  never  got  home  to  his  early  tea. 


98 


TOTAL  ANNIHILATION. 

O,  he  was  a  Bowery  bootblack  bold, 
And  his  years  they  numbered  nine; 

Rough  and  unpolished  was  he,  albeit 
He  constantly  aimed  to  shine. 

As  proud  as  a  king,  on  his  box  he  sat. 

Munching  an  apple  red; 
While  the  boys  of  his  set  looked  wistfully  on, 

And  "Give  us  a  bite!"  they  said. 

But  the  bootblack  smiled  a  lordly  smile; 

"No  free  bites  here!"  he  cried. 
Then  the  boys  they  sadly  walked  away. 

Save  one  who  stood  at  his  side. 

"Bill,  give  us  the  core?"  he  whispered  low. 
That  bootblack  smiled  once  more, 

And  a  mischievous  dimple  grew  in  his  cheek: 
"  There  airCt  goir^  to  be  no  core  I " 


EVERY  LITTLE  HELPS. 

Suppose  a  bright  green  leaf  that  grows 

Upon  a  rose-bush  near. 
Should  say :  "  Because  I'm  not  a  rose, 

I  will  not  linger  here!" 

Suppose  a  little  child  should  say : 

"  Because  I'm  not  a  man, 
I  will  not  try  in  word  or  play 

To  do  what  good  I  can! " 

Kind  words  toward  those  you  daily  meet. 
Kind  words  and  actions  right. 

Will  make  this  life  of  ours  most  sweet, 
Turn  darkness  into  light. 


tommy's  first  speaker.  90 


HOME  AND  MOTHER. 

I  hear  the  patter  of  childish  feet 

Out  in  the  garden  fairj 
And  catch  the  glimpse  of  a  sunny  head, 

And  I  know  my  boy  is  there, 
But  1  let  him  roam  at  his  own  sweet  will, 

For  I  know  he'll  come  at  last 
To  the  safe  retreat  of  his  mother's  arms. 

When  his  happy  sport  is  past. 

I  see  through  the  door  of  the  village  school 

A  boyish  head  bent  low. 
As  he  works  away  at  his  simple  task, 

And  the  hours  pass,  oh!  so  slow! 
Till  I  hear  a  ringing,  boyish  shout, 

And  I  know  it  is  my  boy. 
Who  again  comes  home  when  school  is  done, 

And  is  ever  my  pride  and  joy. 


THE  SECRET  OF  THE  SUNFLOWER. 

O  sunflower,  what  is  the  secret  thing 

You  hide  in  your  inmost  heart. 
When  you  turn  to  the  sun,  like  a  slave  to  a  king, 

Wiih  all  your  leaves  apart? 

The  hollyhocks  vainly  listen  round. 

They  are  nearly  as  tall  as  you ; 
The  bee  comes  away  with  an  angry  sound. 

For  he  cannot  get  the  clue. 

You  hide  your  secret,  day  in,  day  out, 

But  you  eagerly  watch  your  king. 
And  some  hot  noon  you  will  speak  with  a  shout, 

And  tell  us  that  secret  thing ! 


100  tommy's  first  speaker. 


THE  LOST  CHILD. 

"I'm  losted!   Could  you  find  me,  please?" 

Poor  little  frightened  baby! 
The  wind  had  tossed  her  golden  fleece, 
The  stones  had  scratched  her  dimpled  knees, 
I  stooped  and  lifted  her  with  ease, 

And  softly  whispered,  "  Maybe." 

"  Tell  me  your  name,  my  little  maid, 

I  can't  find  you  without  it." 
"  My  name  is  Shiny-eyes,"  she  said. 
"Yes,  but  your  last?"     She  shook  her  head: 
"  Up  to  our  house  'ey  never  said 

A  sino-le  fing:  about  it." 

"But,  dear,"  I  said,  "What  is  your  name?" 
"Why,  didn't  you  hear  me  tell  you? 

Dest  Shiny-eyes."     A  bright  thought  came: 

"Yes,  when  you're  good;  but  when  they  blame 

You,  little  one — is't  just  the  same 
When  mamma  has  to  scold  you?" 

"  My  mamma  never  scolds,"  she  moans, 

A  little  blush  ensuing, 
"  'Cept  when  I've  been  a-frowing  stones, 
And  then  she  says,"  the  culprit  owns, 
"  Mehitable  Sapphira  Jones, 

What  has  you  been  a- doing?" 


WHAT  IS  MAN? 


Like  as  the  damask  rose  you  see, 
Or  like  the  blossoms  on  the  tree, 
Or  like  the  dainty  flower  of  May, 
Or  like  the  morning  to  the  day, 
Or  like  the  sun,  or  like  the  shade. 
Or  like  the  gourd  which  Jonah  had. 
E'en  such  is  man; — whose  thread  is  spun, 
Drawn  oiit  and  cut,  and  so  is  done. 


tommy's    first    SPHlAKipR,       .  ,.,,..  ..,101, 

NOWHERE. 

[A  song  for  boys  and  g-irls  who  are  always  discontented.] 

Do  you  know  where  the  summer  blooms  all   the   year 
round, 
Where  there  never  is  rain  on  a  picnic  day, 
Where  the  thornless  rose  in  its  beauty  grows, 
And  the  little  boys  never  are  called  from  play  ? 
Oh!  hey!  it  is  far  away. 
In  the  wonderful  land  of  Nowhere. 


Would  you  like  to  live  where  nobody  scolds. 

Where  you  never  are  told:  "  It  is  time  for  bed," 

Where   you    learn    without    trying,    and    laugh    without 

crying. 

Where  snarls  never  pull  when  they  comb  your  head? 

Then  oh!  hey!  you  must  hie  away 

To  the  wonderful  land  of  Nowhere. 


If  you  long  to  dwell  where  you  need  never  wait, 

Where  no  one  is  punished  or  made  to  cry. 
Where  a  supper  of  cakes  is  not  followed  by  aches. 
And  little  folks  thrive  on  a  diet  of  pie; 

Then  ho!  hey!  you  must  go,  I  say. 
To  the  wonderful  land  of  Nowhere. 


You  must  drift  down  the  river  of  Idle  Dreams, 

Close  to  the  border  of  No-man's  land; 
For  a  year  and  a  day  you  must  sail  away, 

And  then  you  will  come  to  an  unknown  strand. 
And  hoi  hey!  if  you  get  there — stay 
In  the  wonderful  land  of  Nowhere. 

Ella  Whkeler. 


%02  tommy's  first  speaker. 


STOP,  STOP,  PRETTY  WATER. 

"  Stop,  stop,  pretty  water!" 

Said  Mary,  one  day. 
To  a  frolicsome  brook 

That  was  running  away. 

"  You  run  on  so  fast ! 

I  wish  you  would  stay; 
My  boat  and   my  flowers 

You  will  carry  away. 

"  But  I  will  run  after 

Mother  says  that  I  may; 
For  1  would  know  where 

You  are  running  away." 

So  Mary  ran  on; 

But  I  have  heard  say 
That  she  never  could  find 

Where  the  brook  ran  away. 

Mrs.  Follen, 


THE  EVENING  HYMN. 

God  the  Father!  be  Thou  near. 
Save  from  every  harm  to-night; 

Make  us  all  Thy  children  dear; 
In  the  darkness  be  our  light. 

God  the  Savior!  be  our  peace; 

Put  away  our  sins  to-night; 
Speak  the  word  of  full  release; 

Turn  our  darkness  into  light. 

Holy  Spirit!  deign  to  come, 

Sanctify  us  all  to-night; 
In  our  hearts  prepare  Thy  home, 

Then  our  darkness  shall  be  light. 


tommy's  first   speakek.  103 


FIREFLIES. 

Standing  with  her  palms  together 

Pressed  so  tight, 
On  her  face  a  look  of  wonder 

And  delight, 
Gracie  watched  the  fireflies  dancing 

Here  and  there, 
Gleaming  through  the  sweet,  soft,  summer 

Evening  air. 
Mamma  smiled  to  see  the  dawning 

Glad  surprise 
In  the  clear  depths  of  her  girlie's 

Hazel  eyes. 

"Are  they  fairies'  lanterns,  mamma?" 

Questioned  she; 
"  That  at  night  they  carry  with  them, 

So  to  see; 
Or,"  the  eager  little  face  flushed 

Rosy  bright, 
With  a  memory  of  winter's 

Fleecy-white, 
And  she  clapped  her  small  hands  softly, 

"Now  I  know, 
Mamma,  they  are  little  star- flakes. 

Like  the  snow." 

A.  C.  S. 


THIS  IS  EAST,  AND  THIS  IS  WEST. 

[This  should  be  recited  by  a  little  boy  who  illustrates  the  poem  by  the  move- 
ment of  his  hands.] 

This  is  east,  and  this  is  west, 
Soon  I'll  learn  to  say  the  rest; 
This  is  high,  and  this  is  low. 
Only  see  how  much  I  know. 
This  is  narrow,  this  is  wide. 
Something  else  I  know  beside. 


104  tommy's  first  speaker, 


"LITTLE  CHILDREN." 

Keep  a  guard  on  your  words,  my  darlings, 

For  words  are  wonderful  things; 
They  are  sweet,  like  the  bees'  fresh  honey, 

Like  the  bees,  they  have  terrible  stings. 
They  can  bless,  like  the  warm,  glad  sunshine. 

And  brighten  a  lonely  life, 
They  can  cut  in  the  strife  of  anger, 

Like  an  open,  two-edged  knife. 

Let  them  pass  through  your  lips  unchallenged 

If  their  errand  is  true  and  kind; 
If  they  come  to  support  the  weary. 

To  comfort  and  help  the  blind. 
If  a  bitter,  revengeful  spirit 

Prompts  the  words  let  them  be  unsaid ; 
They  may  flash  through  a  brain  like  lightning, 

Or  fall  on  a  heart  like  lead. 

Keep  them  back  if  they're  cold  and  cruel, 

Under  bar,  and  lock,  and  seal ; 
The  wounds  they  make,  my  darlings, 

Are  always  slow  to  heal. 
May  peace  guard  your  lives,  and  ever, 

From  this  time  of  your  early  youth, 
May  the  words  that  you  daily  utter 

Be  the  beautiful  words  of  truth. 


"WHEN  I  AM  BIG." 

When  I  am  big  I  mean  to  buy 
A  dozen  platters  of  pumpkin  pie, 
A  barrel  of  nuts,  to  have  'em  handy, 
And  fifty  pounds  of  sugar  candy. 

When  I  am  big  I  mean  to  wear 
A  long-tailed  coat,  and  crop  my  hair; 
I'll  buy  a  paper,  and  read  the  news. 
And  sit  up  late  whenever  I  choose. 


tommy's  fikst   speaker.  105 


MY  BOY. 

A  little  roll  of  flannel  fine; 

A  thrill  in  mother's  heart — "'tis  mine;" 

A  little  head  of  golden  hair; 

A  lifted  eye  to  heaven  in  prayer. 

A  smile  that  ripples  to  a  laugh; 
A  tear  with  grief  in  its  behalf; 
A  pushing  of  a  slender  chair; 
A  climbing  of  the  oaken  stair. 

A  stride  o'er  everything  at  hand ; 
A  horse  at  Santa  Claus'  command; 
A  little  cart  all  painted  red; 
A  train  of  cars  at  full  speed  sped. 

A  pair  of  "  pants"  that  reached  the  knee; 
A  strut  like  midshipman  from  sea ; 
A  pair  of  boots  with  tops  of  red; 
A  knife,  a  ball,  a  gallant  sled. 

A  pocket  full  of  everything; 

A  "  shooter,"  skates  and  yards  of  string; 

A  voting  fractiot)s  "  such  a  bore;" 

A  holiday  rejoicing  o'er. 

A  stretching  down  the  pantaloon ; 
A  swim — a  wrestling  match  at  noon; 
A  little  Latin  now,  and  Greek; 
A  letter  home  just  once  a  week. 

A  roaming  through  collegiate  halls; 
A  summer  evening   spent  in  calls; 
A  rapture  o'er  a  sunny  face; 
A  bow,  a  ring,  some  bridal  lace. 

A  kneeling  at  the  chancel  rail; 
A  trembling  bride,  a  bridegroom  pale; 
A  leap  into  the  worlcfs  wide  sea; 
My  boy  was  gone — ah  me!  ah  me! 

Frances  A.  M.JoHNSox 


lUG  tommy's  first  speaker. 


BABY! 


Another  little  wave 

Upon  the  sea  of  life; 
Another  soul  to  save 

Amid  the  toil  and  strife. 

Two  more  little  feet 

To  walk  the  dusty  road ; 

To  choose  where  two  paths  meet, 
The  narrow  and  the  broad. 

Two  more  little  hands 
To  work  for  good  or  ill; 

Two  more  little  eyes; 
Another  little  will. 

Another  heart  to  love, 

Receiving  love  again; 
All  babies  are  the  same, 

Charges  of  joy  and  pain. 


EASTER  LILIES. 


A  little  maid  walked  smiling  on  her  way, 
Bearing  white  lilies  on  an  Easter  day; 
Herself  a  lily,  pure  and  fair  as  they. 

But  as  she  passed  they  bore  along  the  mart, 
A  little  child,  whom  death  had  set  apart, 
Her  small  hands  lying  empty  on  her  heart. 

Close  to  the  bier  the  little  maiden  pressed. 
And  laid  her  lilies  on  the  j^ulseless  breast, 
Saying  "  Take  these  to  light  thee  to  thy  rest." 

"  If  to  my  Lord  I  bring  no  lily  bell. 

He  is  so  near  my  heart  He  knows  full  well 

I  love  Him  more  than  any  tongue  can  tell." 

Emii.y  Huntingdon  Miller. 


tommy's  first  speaker.  107 


LITTLE  BROWN  HANDS. 

They  drive  home  the  cows  from  the  pasture 

Up  through  the  long  shadowy  hme, 
Where  the  quail  whistles  loud  in  the  whcatficlil, 

That  is  yellow  with   ripening  grain; 
They  find,  in  the  thick,  waving  grasses. 

Where  the  scarlet-lipped  strawberry  grows: 
They  gather  the  earliest  snowdrops. 

And  the  first  crimson  buds  of  the  rose. 

They  toss  the  hay  in  the  meadow; 

They  gather  the  elder-bloom  white; 
They  find  where  the  dusky  grapes  purple 

In  the  soft-tinted  October  light. 
They  know  where  the  apples  hang  ripest. 

And  are  sweeter    than  Italy's  wines; 
They  know  where  the  fruit  hangs  the  thickest, 

On  the  long,  thorny  blackberry  vines. 

They  gather  the  delicate  seaweeds. 

And  build  tiny  castles  of  sand; 
They  pick  up  the  beautiful  seashells — 

Fairy  barques  that  have  drifted  to  land. 
They  wave  from  the  tall,  rocking  treetops. 

Where  the  oriole's  hammock-nest  swings, 
And  at  night-time  are  folded  in  slumber 

By  a  song  that  a  fond  mother  sings. 

Those  who  toil  biavely  are  strongest; 

The  humble  and  poor  become  great; 
And  from  those  brown-handed  children 

Shall  grow  mighty  rulers  of  state. 
The  pen  of  the  author  and  statesman. 

The  noble  and  wise  of  the  land. 
The  sword,  and  chisel,  and  pallet. 

Shall  be  held  in  the  little  brown  hand. 


108  tommy's  first  speaker. 


THE  OLD  HOUSE  AT  HOME. 

I  remember,  I  remember, 

The  house  where  I  was  born, 
j^The  httle  window  where  the  sun 

Came  peeping  in  at  morn; 
He  never  came  a  wink  too  soon, 

Nor  brought  too  long  a  clay; 
But  now  I  often  wish  the  night 

Had  borne  my  breath  away. 

I  remember,  I  remember, 

Where  I  was  used  to  swing. 
And  thought  the  air  must  rush  as  fresh 

To  swallows  on  the  wing. 
My  spirit  flew  in  feathers  then. 

That  is  so  heavy  now, 
And  summer  pools  could  hardly  cool 

The  fever  on  my  brow\ 

I  remember,  I  remember. 

The  fir-trees  dark  and  high; 
I  used  to  think  their  slender  tops 

Were  close  against  the  sky; 
It  was  a  childish  ignorance. 

But  now  'tis  little  joy 
To  know  I'm  farther  off  from  heaven 

Than  when  I  was  a  boy. 

Thomas  Hood. 


THE  BABY  SLEEPS. 

Baby  sleeps,  so  we  must  tread 
Softly  round  her  little  bed, 
And  be  careful  that  our  toys 
Do  not  fall  and  make  a  noise. 

We  must  not  talk,  but  whisper  low; 
Mother  wants  to  work,  you  know. 
That  when  father  comes  to  tea, 
All  may  neat  and  cheerful  be. 


tommy's  first  speaker.  109 


WAITING. 

Little  maiden,  are  you  lonely, 

Standing  there  beside  the  sea? 
Are  your  blue  eyes  sad,  or  only 

Filled  with  dreams  too  fair  fol^me? 
Are  the  summer  breezes  making 

Fairy  music  on  the  sand. 
And  the  quiet  ripples  breaking 

From  some  sea-girt  fairy  land? 

Ah,  the  fragrant  flowers  never 

Fade  in  that  soft  sunny  air, 
And  the  fairy  people  ever 

Send  you  dreams  and  fancies  rare! 
Little  maiden,  you  must  only 

Keep  your  blue  eyes  clear  and  free, 
And  you  never  will  be  lonely 

Standing  there  beside  the  sea. 


ONLY  ONE! 


You  sleep  upon  your  mother's  breast, 

Your  race  begun, 
A  welcome,  long  a  wished-for  guest. 

Whose  age  is  One! 

A  baby-boy,  you  wonder  why 

You  cannot  run; 
You  try  to  talk — how  hard  you  try! 

You're  only  One. 

Ere  long  you  won't  be  such  a  dunce ; 

You'll  eat  your  bun. 
And  fly  your  kite,  like  folk  who  once 

Were  only  One. 

You'll  rhyme  and  woo,  and  fight  and  joke, 

Perhaps  you'll  pun; 
Such  feats  are  never  done  by  folk 

Before  they're  One. 


110  tommy's  first  speaker. 


DID  NOT  PASS. 

FOR    MANY    A    GOOD    BOY. 

"  So,  John,  I  hear  you  did  not  pass; 
You  were  the  lowest  in  your  class. 

Got  not  a  prize  of  merit, 
But  grumbling  now  is  no  avail; 
Just  tell  me  how  you  came  to  fail. 

With  all  your  sense  and  spirit?" 

"  Well,  sir,  I  missed,  'mong  other  things. 
The  list  of  Egypt's  shepherd  kings 

(I  wonder  who  does  know  it). 
An  error  of  three  years  I  made 
In  dating  England's  first  crusade; 

And,  as  I  am  no  poet, 

"  I  got  Euripides  all  wrong. 

And  could  not  write  a  Latin  song; 

And  as  for  Roman  history. 
With  Hun  and  Vandal,  Goth  and  Gaul 
And  Gibbon's  weary  *  Rise  and  Fall,' 

'Twas  all  a  hopeless  mystery. 

"  But,  father,  do  not  fear  or  sigh 
If  '  Cram'  does  proudly  pass  me  by. 

And  pedagogues  ignore  me; 
I've  common  sense,   I've  will  and  health, 
I'll  win  my  way  to  honest  wealth ; 

The  world  is  all  before  me. 

"And  though  I'll  never  be  a  Grecian, 
Know  Roman  laws  or  art  Phoenician, 

Or  sing  of  love  and  beauty, 
I'll  plow,  or  build,  or  sail,  or  trade, 
And  you  need  never  be  afraid 

But  that  I'll  do  my  duty." 

Mary  E.  Burnett, 


Ill 


LADY  GOLDEN-ROD. 

*0  pretty  Lady  Golden-Rod, 

Fill  glad  you've  come  to  town! 
I  saw  you  standing  by  the  gate, 

All  in  your  yellow  gown. 
No  one  was  with  me,  and  I  thought 

You  might  be  lonely,  too; 
And  so  I  took  my  card  case 

And  came  to  visit  you. 

"You're  fond  of  company,  T  know; 

You  smile  so  at  the  sun. 
And  when  the  winds  go  romping  past 

You  bow  to  every  one. 
How  you  should  ever  know  them  all 

Pm  sure  I  cannot  tell; 
But  when  I  come  again,  I  hope 

You'll  know  me  just  as  well. 

"I  love  you,  Lady  Golden-Rod; 

You  are  so  bright  and  fine; 
You  never  have  a  rumpled  frock. 

Or  tangled  hair,  like  mine. 
I  think  your  mamma  comes  at  night, 

When  we  are  all  away. 
And  dresses  you  in  green  and  gold 

Fresh  for  another  day. 

"  How  tall  you  are,  dear  Golden-Rod! 

You're  taller  'most  than  I; 
I  cannot  grow  so  very  fast. 

Although  I  try  and  try. 
Oh,  here's  mamma,  dear  Golden  Rod! 

Fll  ask  her  please  to  stop; 
And  she  shall  say  which  one  of  us 

Comes  highest  at  the  top." 

The  lovely  Lady  Golden-Rod! 
She  surely  understood; 


112  tommy's  first  speaker. 

For  when  wee  Margie  turned  around, 

She  bent  down  all  she  could, 
Until  the  fluffy  yellow  heads 

Upon  a  level  came, 
And  Margie's  mother,  smiling,  said: 

"  Your  heights  are  just  the  samel" 

Carrie  W.  Bronson. 


GOOD-NIGHT. 


Good-night!  the  sun  is  setting, 

"Good-night!"  the  robins  sing, 
And  blue-eyed  dolls  and  blue-eyed  girls 

Should  soon  be  following. 
Come!  lay  the  Lady  Geraldine 

Among  the  pillows  white; 
'Tis  time  the  little  mother  kissed 

Her  sleepy  doll  good-night. 

And,  Willie,  put  the  cart  away, 

And  drive  into  the  shed 
The  pony  and  the  muley  cow — 

'Tis  time  to  go  to  bed. 
For,  listen!  in  the  lilac  tree 

The  robin  does  not  sing; 
"  Good-night!"  he  sang,  and  tucked  his  head 

Beneath  his  weary  wing. 

Soon  all  the  world  will  go  to  rest, 

And  all  the  sky  grow  dim; 
God  "giveth  His  beloved  sleep," 

So  we  may  trust  in  Him. 
The  Lord  is  in  the  shadow. 

And  the  Lord  is  in  the  light, 
To  guard  His  little  ones  from  harm; 

Good-night,  dear  hearts,  good-night! 


tommy's  first  speaker.  113 


TO  GROWN-UP  LAND. 

Good- morning,  fair  maid,  with  lashes  brown, 
Can  you  tell  me  the  way  to  Womanhood  Town? 


O.  this  way  and  that  way — never  stop, 
'Tis  picking  up  stitches  granchna  will  drop, 
'Tis  kissing  the  baby's  troubles  away, 
'Tis  learning  that  cross  words  will  never  pay, 
'Tis  helping  mother,  'lis  sewing  up  rents, 
'Tis  reading  and  playing,  'tis  saving  the  cents, 
'Tis  loving  and  smiling,  forgetting  to  frown — 
O,  that  is  the  way  to  Womanhood  Town. 

Just  wait,  my  brave  lad,  one  moment,  I  pray, 
Manhood  Town  lies  where — can  you  tell  me  the  way  ? 

O,  by  toiling  and  trying  we  reach  that  land — 
A  bit  with  the  head,  a  bit  with  the  hand — 
'Tis  by  climbing  up  the  steep  hill  work, 
'Tis  by  keeping  out  of  the  wide  street  Shirk, 
'Tis  by  always  taking  the  weak  one's  part, 
'Tis  by  giving  mother  a  happy  heart, 
'Tis  by  keeping  bad  thoughts  and  actions  down — 
O,  that  is  the  way  to  Manhood  Town. 

And  the  lad  and  the  maid  ran  hand  in  hand 
To  their  fair  estates  in  Grown  Up  Land. 


BRIGHT  LITTLE  DANDELION. 

Bright  little  dandelion, 

Downy  yellow-face. 
Peeping  up  among  the  grass 

With  such  gentle  grace; 
Minding  not  the  April  wind 

Blowing  rude  and  cold, 
Brave  little  dandelion, 

With  a  heart  of  gold! 


114 


A  CHILD'S  FANCIES. 

I. THE    LAND    OF    COUNTERPANE. 

When  I  wus  sick  and  lay  abed, 
I  had  two  pillows  at  my  head, 
And  all  my  toys  beside  me  lay 
To  keep  me  happy  all  the  day. 

And  sometimes  for  an  hour  or  so 
I  watched  my  leaden  soldiers  go, 
With  different  uniforms  and  drills, 
Among  the  bed-clothes  through  the  hills, 

And  sometimes  sent  my  ships  in  fleets 
All  up  and  down  among  the  sheets; 
Or  brought  my  trees  and  houses  out. 
And  planted  cities  all  about. 

I  was  the  giant  great  and  still 
That  sits  upon  the  pillow  hill. 
And  sees  before  him  field  and  plain — 
The  pleasant  Land  of  Counterpane. 

II. THE    WIND. 

I  saw  you  toss  the  kites  on  high, 
And  blow  the  birds  about  the  sky; 
And  all  around  I  heard  you  pass. 
Like  ladies'  skirts  across  the  grass— 
O  wind,  a-blowing  all  day  long! 

0  wind,  that  sings  so  loud  a  song! 

1  saw  the  different  things  you  did, 
But  always  you  yourself  you  hid ; 
I  felt  you  push,  I  heard  you  call, 

I  could  not  see  yourself  at  all — 
O  wind,  a-blowing  all  day  long! 
O  wind,  that  sings  so  loud  a  song! 


tommy's  first   speaker.  115 

Oh,  you  that  are  so  strong  and  cold, 
O  blower,  are  you  young  or  old? 
Are  you  a  beast  of  field  and  tree, 
Or  just  a  stronger  child  than  me? 

O  wind,  a-blowing  all  day  long! 

O  wind,  that  sings  so  loud  a  song! 

Robert  Louis  Stevenson. 


PD  BE— WOULDN'T  YOU? 

Two  little  feet  running  up  and  down, 
Two  chubby  hands  pulling  my  gown, 
Two  little  blue  eyes  peeping  at  me, 
Bluer  no  two  little  eyes  could  be. 

Who  wouldn't  be  mamma  to  two  little  feet? 
Mamma  to  two  little  hands  so  sweet? 
Mamma  to  two  little  eyes  so  blue? 
I'd  be  mamma  to  them — wouldn't  you? 

A  sweet  red  mouth,  and  one  little  nose. 
Ten  plump  fingers,  and  ten  little  toes. 
Two  cunning  dimples,  that  play  bo-peep 
With  the  smiles  that  round  the  corners  creep. 

Who  wouldn't  be  mamma  to  mouth  and  nose? 
Mamma  to  ten  little  fingers  and  toes? 
Mamma  to  dear  little  dimples,  too? 
I'd  be  mamma  to  them — wouldn't  you? 

Out  in  the  morning,  merry  and  bold. 
Trying  to  pick  up  the  sunbeam's  gold, 
Pinching  the  dog,  and  pulling  the  cat. 
Hiding  away  under  grandpa's  hat. 

Who  wouldn't  be  mamma  to  such  a  boy? 
Mamma  to  such  a  dear  household  joy? 
Mamma  to  one  so  precious  and  true? 
I'd  be  mamma  to  him — wouldn't  you? 


116  tommy's  first  speaker. 


DEAR  LADS  AND  LASSES. 


Out  in  the  hilly  patch, 

Seeking  the  berries — 
Under  the  orchard  trees, 

Feasting  on  cherries — 
Trampling  the  clover  blooms 

Down  'mong  the  grasses. 
No  voice  to  hinder  them. 

Dear  lads  and  lasses! 

No  grim  propriety — 

No  interdiction; 
Free  as  the  birdlings 

From  city  restriction! 
Coining  the  purest  blood, 

Strength'ning  each  muscle. 
Donning  health  armor 

'Gainst  life's  comins:  bustle. 


PRAYER  FOR  SATURDAY  EVENING. 

Chafed  and  worn  with  worldly  care. 
Sweetly,  Lord,  my  heart  prepare; 
Bid  this  inmost  tempest  cease ; 
Jesus,  come  and  whisper  peace! 
Hush  the  whirlwind  of  my  will; 
With  thyself  my  spirit  fill; 
End  in  calm  this  busy  week, 
Let  the  Sabbath  gently  break. 
Sever,  Lord,  these  earthly  ties — 
Fain  my  soul  to  Thee  would  rise; 
Disentangle  me  from  time, 
Lift  me  to  a  purer  clime; 
Let  me  cast  away  my  load; 
Let  me  now  draw  near  to  God, 
Gently,  loving  Jesus,  speak; 
End  in  calm  this  busy  week, 


tommy's  first  speaker.  117 


KINDLY  WORDS. 

George  Herbert  says  that  **good  words  are  worth 
much,  though  they  cost  but  little."  There  are  very  few 
of  us  who  rightly  estimate  the  value  of  daily  speech. 
Many  a  word,  thoughtlessly  spoken,  inflicts  a  wound  that 
lingers  long  and  painfully.  We  should  not  only  avoid  the 
speech  that  hurts  and  wounds,  but  be  generous  of  the 
speech  that  cheers  and  gladdens. 

Speak  gently;  in  this  world  of  ours, 

Where  clouds  o'ersweep  the  sky. 
And  sweetest  flowers  and  fairest  forms 

Are  ever  first  to  die, 
Where  friendship  changes,  and  the  ties 

That  bind  fond  hearts  are  riven. 
Mild,  soothing  words  are  like  the  stars 

That  light  the  midnight  heaven. 
There  are  enough  of  tears  on  earth, 

Enough  of  toil  and  care; 
And  e'en  the  lightest  heart  hath  inuch 

To  suflfer  and  to  bear. 
Within  each  spirit's  hidden  depths 

Some  sweet  hope  withered  lies. 
From  whose  soft,  faded  blood  we  turn 

In  sadness  to  the  skies. 


THE  SABBATH. 


Welcome  thou  peaceful  dawn! 

O'er  field  and  wooded  lawn 
The  wonted  sound  of  busy  toil  is  laid. 

And  hark!  the  village  bell! 

Whose  simple  tinklingi^  swell, 
Sweet  as  the  soft  music  on  the  straw-roofed  shed, 
And  bid  the  pious  cottager  prepare 
To  keep  the  appointed  rest,  and  seek  the  house  of 
prayer. 


118  tommy's  first  speaker. 


TWO  KINGS. 

Two  kin^^s  ruled  in  an  eastern  hnd, 
King  Gentle-Heart,  King  Mighty-Hand; 
With  Mighty-Hand  the  king,  how  fast 
The  fertile  fields  to  deserts  passed! 
Birds  flew  distraught  and  blossoms  failed; 
The  motheis  wept,  the  children  wailed; 
All  harvesters  were  armed  bands, 
The  sword  was  in  the  reaper's  hands; 
There  shone  no  joyous  Christmas  day 
When  Mighty-Hand,  the  king,  had  sway. 

Two  kings  ruled  in  an  eastern  land, 
King  Gentle  Heart,  King  Mighty-Hand; 
With  Gentle- Heart  the  king,  again 
The  desert  grew  an  harvest  plain; 
Bees  Hummed  and  blossoms  apples  made; 
Birds  put  delight  in  sun  and  shade; 
Mothers  o'er  cradles  crooning  hung; 
Strong  men  in  wheat-fields  reaping  sung; 
And  Christmas  came,  the  children's  day, 
When  Gentle-Heart,  the  king,  had  sway! 

John  James  Piatt. 


USEFUL  LITTLE    WORDS. 

Hearts,  like  doors,  can  ope  with  ease 

To  very,  very  little  keys; 
And  don't  forget  that  they  are  these: 

^'  I  thank  you^  sir'''  and  '•''  If  you  please.'*'^ 

Then  let  us  watch  these  little  things. 

And  so  respect  each  other; 
That  not  a  word,  or  look,  or  tone 

May  wound  a  friend  or  brother. 


tommy's  first  speaker.  119 


THE  LAMENT  OF  A  LEFT-OVER  DOLL. 

Pm  a  left-over  doll,  and  I  grieve  to  relate 
How  sad  is  my  fortune,  how  lonely  my  fate; 
For  I  had  no  notion  that  I  should  lie  here, 
Forlorn  and  neglected,  at  this  time  of  year. 

Oh,  long  before  Christmas  they  dressed  mc  up  fine — 
No  dollie  had  clothes  any  better  than  mine; 
And  I  rather  imagine  I  looked  very  nice. 
As  many  fine  ladies  inquired  my  price. 

I  was  handled  and  dandled  and  fondly  caressed — 

My  beauty  admired,  my  value  confessed, 

And  yet  for  some  reason  or  other  was  I 

Put  back  in  the  show-case,  the  buyer  went  by. 

One  dear  little  maiden  came  into  the  store; 
She  saw  me,  and  for  me  began  to  implore. 
And  said  that  there  wasn't  a  doll  in  the  place 
With  a  handsomer  dress  or  a  lovelier  face. 

She  stared  at  me  long,  so,  of  course,  I  stared  back, 
And  saw  that  her  eyes  were  a  beautiful  black; 
And  I  wanted  to  speak,  but  I  couldn't,  because 
I  hndn't  been  made  with  a  hinge  in  my  jaws. 

I  dreamed  about  Christmas,  and  how  I  should  be 
Stuck  into  a  sacking,  or  up  on  a  tree. 
Then  carried  about  in  my  mistress'  arms 
That  all  might  admire  my  wonderful  charms. 

But  Santa  Claus  came,  and  he  went  on  his  way, 
And  took  with  him  many  a  doll,  I  dare  say; 
But  as  Pve  a  chance  to  look  round  me,  I  find 
That  dozens  and  dozens  are  still  left  behind. 

If  you  were  a  left-over  dollie  yourself 
You'd  know  how  I  feel,  lying  here  on  the  shelf 
So  long  after  Christmas,  and  wouldn't  expect 
Me  to  smile  at  old  Santa  Claus'  cruel  neglect. 


no 

They've  marked  down  my  price;  and  I  very  much  fear 
That  those  who  buy  cheaply  will  hold  me  less  dear, 
And  the  army  of  curious  shoppers  I  shun, 
Since  I  had  no  part  in  the  holiday  fun. 


LOVELINESS. 


Once  I  knev/  a  little  girl, 

Very  plain ; 
You  might  try  her  hair  to  curl, 

All  in  vain; 
On  her  cheek  no  tint  of  rose 
Paled  and  blushed,  or  sought  repose; 

She  was  plain. 

But  the  thoughts  that  through  her  brain 
Came  and  went,  "^ 

As  a  recompense  for  pain, 
Angels  sent; 

So  full  many  a  beauteous  thing 

In  her  young  soul  blossoming 
Gave  content. 

Every  thought  was  full  of  grace. 

Pure  and  true; 
And  in  time  the  homely  face 

Lovelier  grew; 
With  a  heavenly  radiance  bright. 
From  the  souPs  reflected  light 

Shining  through. 

So  I  tell  you,  little  child. 

Plain  or  poor. 
If  your  thoughts  are  undefiled. 

You  are  sure 
Of  the  loveliness  of  worth; 
And  this  beauty  not  of  earth 

Will  endure. 

St.  Nicholas. 


tommy's  first  speaker.  121 


LITTLE    BROWN  BUSHY-TAIL. 

Little  brown  Bushy-Tail  lived  up  a  trtfe, 

And  mossy  and  snucr  was  his  nest; 
Acorns  and  beechnuts  in  plenty  had  he, 

And  he  scarcely  knew  which  he  liked  best; 

He  was  cheery  of  temper  and  agile  of  limb, 

And  his  own  little  will  was  his  law; 
For  what  was  the  world  and  its  worries  to  him, 

When  he  held  a  plump  nut  in  his  claw? 

As  he  cracked  it  he  twinkled  his  knowing  black  eyes, 

The  kernel  picked  out  by  and  by; 
Then  he  ate  it  and  looking  uncommonly  wise. 

Said,  "  Folk  may  be  worse  off  than  I. 

"  For  Pm  sure  I'm  content  with  my  portion  in  life, 

And  of  nuts  I've  a  plentiful  store; 
With  my  little  brown  babies  and  little  brown  wife, 
•   What  on  earth  could  a  squirrel  want  more?" 

He  had  lots  of  near  neighbors  as  merry  as  he, 
They  were  cheery  and  playful  each  one; 

Don't  they  show  us  that  happy  'tis  easy  to  be, 
If  good  humor  we  give  with  our  fun? 

Content  with  the  blessings  our  Father  may  give. 

How  happy  would  all  of  us  be. 
If  we  tried  with  our  friends  and  our  neighbors  to  live 

As  the  brown  squirrel  did  in  the  tree! 

AsTLEY  H.   Baldwin. 


GOOD-NIGHT  AND   GOOD-MORNING. 

A  fair  little  girl  sat  under  a  tree. 

Sewing  as  long  as  her  eyes  could  see; 

Then  smoothing  her  work  and  folding  it  right, 

She  said  " Dear  work !  Good-Night!  Good-Night!" 


122  tommy's  first  speaker. 


Such  a  number  of  rooks  came  over  her  head, 
Crying  "  Caw!  Caw!"  on  their  way  to  bed; 
She  said,  as  she  watched  their  curious  flight, 
"  Little  black  things!  Good-Night!  Good-Night!" 

The  horses  neighed  and  the  oxen  lowed; 
The  sheep's  "  Bleat!  bleat!"  came  over  the  road; 
All  seeming  to  sav  with  a  quiet  delight, 
"Good  little  girl!  ■'Good-Night!  Good-Night!" 

She  did  not  say  to  the  Sun,  "  Good-Night!" 
Though  she  saw  him  there  like  a  ball  of  light; 
For  she  knew  that  he  had  God's  time  to  keep, 
All  over  the  world,  and  never  could  sleep. 

The  tall  pink  fox-glove  bowed  his  head — 

The  violets  curtsied  and  went  to  bed; 

And  good  little  Lucy  tied  up  her  hair, 

And  said,  on  her  knees,  her  short,  sweet  prayer. 

And  while  on  her  pillow  she  softly  lay, 
She  knew  nothing  more  till  again  it  was  day; 
And  all  things  said  to  the  beautiful  Sun, 
"Good-Morning!  Good-Morning!  Our  work  is  begur 

Lord  Houghton. 


WHAT  DOES  LITTLE  BIRDIE  SAY? 

What  does  httle  birdie  say, 
In  her  nest  at  peep  of  day? 
"  Let  me  fly,"  says  little  birdie, 
"  Mother,  let  me  fly  away." 

«'  Birdie,  rest  a  little  longer, 

Till  the  little  wings  are  stronger." 
So  she  rests  a  little  longer. 
Then  she  flies  away. 

Alfred  Tennyson. 


tommy's   i-ri{sr    spkakkij.  123 


LOVE  THY  MOTHER,  LITTLE  ONE. 

Love  thy  mother,  Httle  one! 
Kiss  and  chisp  her  neck  again, — 
Hereafter  she  may  have  a  son 
Will  kiss  and  clasp  her  neck  in  vain; 
Love  thy  mother,  little  one! 

Press  her  lips  the  while  they  glow 
With  love  that  they  have  often  told, — 
Hereafter  thou  may'st  press  in  woe. 
And  kiss  them  till  thine  own  are  cold. 
Press  her  lips  the  while  they  glow! 

Pray  for  her  at  eve  and  morn, 
That  heaven  may  long  the  stroke  defer — 
For  thou  may'st  live  the  hour  forlorn 
When  thou  wilt  ask  to  die  with  her. 
Pray  for  her  at  eve  and  morn! 

Thomas  Hood. 


BIRD'S  NESTS. 

If  ever  I  see, 
On  bush  or  tree, 

Young  birds  in  a  pretty  nest, 
I  must  not,  in  play. 
Steal  the  young  birds  away, 

To  grieve  their  mother's  breast. 

My  mother,  I  know, 
Would  sorrow  so. 

Should  I  be  stolen  away; 
So  I'll  speak  to  the  birds, 
In  my  softest  words. 

Nor  hurt  them  in  my  play. 


124 


THE  QUEEN  IN  HER  CARRIAGE  RIDING  BY 

Oh,  the  queen  in  her  carriage  is  passing  by; 
Her  cheeks  are  like  roses,  her  eyes  like  the  sky; 
Her  wonderful  teeth  are  white  as  new  milk, 
Her  pretty  blonde  hair  is  softer  than  silk. 

She's  the  loveliest  monarch  that  ever  was  seen; 
You  ask  of  what  country  the  darling  is  queen; 
Her  empire  extends  not  to  far  distant  parts, 
She  is  queen  of  our  household,  the  mistress  of  hearts. 

For  scepter  she  lifts  her  soft  dimpled  hands; 
Her  subjects  all  hasten  to  heed  her  commands; 
Her  smile  is  bewitching  and  fearful  her  frown, 
And  all  must  obey  when  she  puts  her  foot  down. 

May  blessings  descend  on  the  bright  little  head, 
From  the  time  she  awakes  till  she's  safely  in  bed; 
And  now  do  you  guess,  when  I  speak  of  the  queen, 
'Tis  only  our  six  months'  baby  I  mean  ? 


THE  LARK, 


Bird  of  the  wilderness. 

Blithesome  and  cumberless, 
Sweet  by  thy  matin  o'er  moorland  and  lea! 

Emblem  of  happiness, 

Blest  is  thy  dwelling-place — 
Oh,  to  abide  in  the  desert  with  thee! 

Wild  is  thy  lay  and  loud, 

Far  in  the  downy  cloud; 
Love  gives  it  energy — love  gave  it  birth: 

Where,  on  thy  dewy  wing — 

Where  art  thou  journeying? 
Thy  lay  is  in  heaven — thy  love  is  on  earth. 

James  Hogg. 


lOMMV's    tlRbl     SPliAKER.  135 


TALE  OF  A  DOG  AND  A  BEE. 

Great  big  dog, 

Hciul  upon  his  toes; 
Tiny  little  bee 

Settles  on  his  nose. 

Great  big  dog 

Thinks  it  is  a  fly, 
Never  says  a  word. 

Winks  mighty  sly. 

Tiny  little  bee 

Tickles  dog's  nose — 
Thinks  like  as  not 

'Tis  a  blooming  rose. 

Dog  smiles  a  smile. 

Winks  his  other  eye. 
Chuckles  to  himself 

How  he'll  catch  a  fly. 

Then  he  makes  a  snap, 
Mighty  quick  and  spiy. 

Gets  the  little  bug, 

But  doesn't  catch  tlie  fly. 

Tiny  little  bee, 

Alive  and  looking  well, 
Great  big  dog, 

Mostly  gone  to  swell. 

MORAL. 

Dear  friends  and  brothers  ail, 
Don't  be  too  fast  and  free. 

And  when  you  catch  a  fly 
Be  sure  it  air.'t  a  bee. 


12G  tommy's  first  speaker. 

A  MITE  SONG. 

Only  a  drop  in  the  bucket, 
But  every  drop  will  tell, 

The  bucket  would  soon  be  empty 
Without  the  drops  in  the  well. 

Only  a  poor  little  penny, 
It  was  all  I  had  to  give; 

But  as  pennies  make  the  dollars, 
It  may  help  some  cause  to  live. 

A  few  little  bits  of  ribbon 

And  some  toys  that  were  not  new, 

But  they  made  the  sick  child  happy. 
Which  has  made  me  happy  too. 

Only  some  out-grown  garments; 

They  were  all  I  had  to  spare. 
But  they'll  help  to  clothe  the  needy, 

And  the  poor  are  everywhere. 

A  word  now  and  then  of  comfort. 
That  cost  me  nothing  to  say; 

But  the  poor  old  man  died  happy. 
And  it  helped  him  on  the  way. 

God  loveth  the  cheerful  giver. 

Though  the  gift  be  poor  and  small; 
What  doth  He  think  of  His  children 

When  they  never  give  at  all? 


GIVE  THE  LITTLE  BOYS  A  CHANCE. 

Little  hands  will  soon  be  strong 

For  the  work  that  they  must  do; 
Little  lips  will  sing  their  song 

W^iien  these  early  days  are  through. 
So,  you  big  boys,  if  we'ie  small, 

On  our  toes  you  needn't  dance; 
There  is  room  enough  for  all — 

Give  the  little  boys  a  chance, 


tommy's  first  speaker.  127 

NOBODY'S  DOG. 

Only  a  dirty  black  and  white  dog  I 

You  can  see  hi  in  any  day, 
Trotting  meekly  from  street  to  street. 

He  almost  seems  to  say, 
As  he  looks  in  your  face  with  wistful  eyes, 

''  I  don't  mean  to  be  in  your  way." 

His  tail  hangs  drooping  between  his  legs; 

His  body  is  thin  and  spare; 
How  he  envies  the  sleek  and  well-fed  dogs 

That  thrive  on  their  master's  care! 
And  he  wonders  what  they  irmst  think  of  Inm 

And  grieves  at  his  own  hard  fare. 

Sometimes  he  sees  a  friendly  face — 

A  face  that  he  seems  to  know; 
And  thinks  he  may  be  the  master 

That  he  lost  so  long  ago; 
And  even  dares  to  follow  him  home, 

For  he  loved  his  master  so. 

Poor  Jack!     He's  only  mistaken  again, 

And  stoned  and  driven  back; 
But  he's  used  to  disappointment  now. 

And  takes  up  his  beaten  track; 
Nobody's  dog,  for  nobody  cares 

For  poor,  unfortunate  Jack. 


WOMAN'S  DAY. 


One  tear-drop  from  a  mother's  eye. 
One  little  sob  from  a  mother's  heart. 
Will  make  her  wild  boy's  conscience  start. 

And  waken  echoes  to  her  sigh. 

One  heavy  slap  from  a  mother's  hand, 
A  whack  upon  the  wild  boy's  ear. 
Will  make  him  from  her  presence  steer 

And  rue  the  mischief  he  had  planned. 


128  tommy's  first  speaker. 


TWO  LITTLE  MAGPIES  SAT  ON  A  WALL. 

Two  magpies  sat  on  a  garden  rail, 
As  it  might  be  Wednesday  week; 

And  one  little  magpie  wagged  his  tail 
In  the  other  little  magpie's  beak. 

And,  doubling  like  a  fist  his  little  claw-hand. 
Said  this  other,  "  Upon  my  word. 

This  is  more  than  flesh  and  blood  can  stand 
Of  magpie  or  any  bird." 

So  they  pecked  and   they  scratched  each  other% 
eyes, 

Till  all  that  was  left  on  the  rail 
Was  the  beak  of  one  of  the  little  magpies 

And  the  other  little  magpie's  tail ! 


COUNTRY  CHILDREN. 

Little  fresh  violets, 

Born  in  the  wildwood; 
Sweetly  illustrating 

Innocent  childhood; 
Shy  as  the  antelope — 

Brown  as  a  berry — 
Free  as  the  mountain  air, 

Romping  and  merry. 

Blue  eyes  and  hazel  eyes 

Peep  from  the  hedges. 
Shaded  by  sun-bonnets, 

Frayed  at  the  edges! 
Up  in  the  apple  trees 

Careless  of  danger. 
Manhood  in  embryo 

Stares  at  the  stranger, 


toMxMy's  first   speaker.  129 


WHIP-POOR-WILL. 

"  Whip-poor-will !  whip-poor-will ! " 

Heard  little  Rose  in  the  gloaming; 
The  words  came  hurriedly  and  shrill, 

When  she  in  the  fields  was  roaming; 
Then  into  the  house  she  soon  went  skipping, 
To  ask  why  poor  Will  wanted  a  whipping. 
"Has  he  been  naughty?"  she  asked,  with  dread, 
"  That  lie  must  be  whipped  and  sent  to  bed?" 

"Whip  poor-will!  whip-poor-will!*' 

Those  words  came  again — those  words  only. 
The  wind  was  whispering  softly  and  still. 
And  the  world  seemed  dark  and  lonely, 
"Whip-poor-will!  whip-poor-will!"  was  still  the  cry 
She  heard  from  the  tree-tops  so  tall  and  high 
"What  have  you  done?"  called  Rose,  as  shrill 
As  the  voice  that  cried  "Whip-poor-will!" 

"Whip  poor-will!  whip-poor-will!" 

"  What  do  you  cry  for?"  said  little  Rose, 

And  this  the  thought  that  came  to  her  still, 
"Ah!  cry  for  a  whipping!   I  suppose. 

What  a  strange,  silly  fool  that  thing  must  be, 

To  cry  for  a  whipping  up  there  in  the  tree." 

Then  she  gravely  said,  with  a  sigh, 

"Ah!  you  have  been  telling  a  lie!" 

"  Whip-poor-will !  whip-poor-will ! " 

She  heard  till  the  sound  grew  weary! 
The  evening  air  was  damp  and  chill. 

The  dim  old  wood  was  lone  and  dreary. 
Ah!  the  notes  were  now  so  solemn  and  sad. 
She  though    the  creature  began  to  feel  bad, 
And  in  pity  she  softly  said, 
"  WAy  don'' t you  slyly  steal  to  bcd?^'' 

Lucy  S.  Ruggles. 


130  tommy's  first  speaker. 


GOD  MADE  ALL  THINGS. 

God  made  the  sky  that  looks  so  blue; 

He  made  the  grass  so  green ; 
He  made  the  flowers  that  look  so  sweet, 

In  pretty  colors  seen. 

God  made  the  sun  that  shines  so  bright, 

And  gladdens  all  I  see; 
It  comes  to  give  us  heat  and  light — 

How  thankful  we  should  be! 

God  made  the  pretty  bird  to  fly; 

How  sweetly  has  she  surig! 
And  though  she  flies  so  very  high, 

She  won't  forget  her  young. 

God  made  the  cow  to  give  nice  milk, 

The  horse  for  me  to  use; 
I'll  treat  them  kindly,  for  His  sake, 

Nor  dare  His  gifts  abuse. 

God  made  the  water  for  my  drink; 

He  made  the  fish  to  swim; 
He  made  the  tree  to  bear  nice  fruit; 

Oh,  how  I  should  love  him! 


GOOD-NIGHT,  LITTLE  STAR. 

Good-night,  little  star! 

I  will  go  to  my  bed 
And  leave  you  to  burn 

While  I  lay  down  my  head. 

On  my  pillow  I'll  sleep 
Till  the  morning  light, 

Then  you  will  be  fading 
And  I  shall  be  bright. 


tommy's  first  speaker.  131 


SKIPPING. 


Over  the  rope  and  under  the  rope, 
And  over  the  rope  we  go; 
Tripping,  skipping, 
Skipping,  tripping. 
But  never,  never  slow! 

Over  the  rope  and  under  the  rope. 
And  over  the  rope  we  go; 
Springing,  singing, 
Singing,  springing. 
But  never,  never  slow! 

Skippnig  over  the  wet, 

And  skipping  over  the  dry. 

If  we  don't  get  over  the  ground 
We'll  know  the  reason  why. 


TRY. 

"  Can't-do-it"  sticks  in  the  mud,  but  "Try"  soon  drags 
the  wagon  out  of  the  rut.  The  fox  said  "  Try,"  and  he 
got  away  from  the  hounds  when  they  almost  snapt  at  him. 
The  bees  said  "  Try,"  and  turned  flowers  into  honey.  The 
squirrel  said  "  Try,"  and  up  he  went  to  the  top  of  the  beech 
tree.  The  snowdrop  said  "  Try,"  and  bloomed  in  the  cold 
snows  of  winter.  The  sun  said  "  Try,"  and  the  spring  soon 
threw  Jack  Frost  out  of  the  saddle.  The  young  lark  said 
"  Try,"  and  he  found  that  his  new  wings  soon  took  him 
over  hedges  and  ditches,  and  up  to  where  his  father  was 
singing.  The  ox  said  "  Try,"  and  plowed  the  field  from 
end  to  end.  No  hill  too  steep  for  "  Try  "  to  climb;  no  field 
too  wet  for  "  Try  "  to  drain;  no  hole  too  big  for  "  Try  "  to 
mend.  "Can't-do-it"  is  a  lazy  fellovs^,  but  "Try"  is  the 
lad  for  me! 


132  tommy's  first  speaker, 


/  WHAT  A  LITTLE  LEAF  SAID. 

Once  on  a  time  a  little  leaf  was  heard  to  sigh  and  cry, 
as  leaves  often  do  when  a  gentle  wind  is  about.  And  the 
twig  said:  "  What  is  the  matter,  little  leaf?" 

"  The  wind,"  said  the  leaf,  "just  told  me  that  one  day 
it  would  pull  me  off,  and  throw  me  down  on  the  ground  to 
die." 

The  twig  told  it  to  the  branch  on  which  it  grew,  and 
the  branch  told  it  to  the  tree.  When  the  tree  heard  it  it 
rustled  all  over,  and  sent  back  word  to  the  leaf:  "  Do  not 
be  afraid;  hold  on  tightly  and  you  shall  not  go  till  you 
want  to." 

So  the  leaf  stopped  sighing,  and  went  on  rustling  and 
singing. 

When  the  bright  days  of  autumn  came  the  little  leaf 
saw  the  leaves  around  becoming  very  beautiful.  Then  it 
asked  the  tree  what  this  meant,  and  the  tree  said:  "All 
these  leaves  are  getting  rendy  to  fly  away,  and  they  have 
put  on  those  beautiful  colors  because  of  joy." 

Then  the  little  leaf  begnn  to  want  to  go,  and  grew  very 
beautiful  in  thinking  of  it.  And  when  it  w^as  very  gav  in 
colors  it  saw  that  the  branches  of  the  tree  had  no  color  in 
them,  so  it  said:  "  O,  branch,  why  are  you  lead  colored  and 
we  golden?" 

"  We  must  keep  on  our  work  clothes,"  said  the  tree, 
"  for  our  life  is  not  done  yet,  but  your  clothes  are  for  a  holi- 
day, for  your  task  is  over." 


THIS  LIFE  IS  WHAT  WE  MAKE  IT, 

Let's  oftener  talk  of  noble  deeds, 

And  rarer  of  the  bad  ones. 
And  sing  about  our  happy  days, 

And  none  about  the  sad  ones. 

We  were  not  made  to  fret  and  sigh. 
And  when  grief  sleeps,  to  wake  it; 

Bright  happiness  is  standing  by^ 
This  life  is  what  we  make  it, 


tommy's  first  speaker.  133 


A  TRIBUTE  TO  AN  OLD  SHOE. 

Adieu!  adieu! 

My  poor  old  shoe! 
What  comfort  I  have  had  with  you! 
My  sole  companion  day  by  day, 
You've  cheered  and  soothed  my  weary  way  1 

A  fond  adieu, 

My  dear  old  shoe! 
Most  faithful  friend  IVe  found  in  you! 
Alike,  midst  f^iir  or  wintry  weather. 
We've  shared  life's  pilgrimage  together. 

Now  rent  and  torn, 

And  sadly  worn. 
Of  every  trace  of  beauty  shorn. 
'Tis  with  an  honest,  heart-felt  sigh 
I  feel  that  I  must  throw  you  by. 

A  sad  adieu! 

Poor  worn  out  shoe! 
What  sorry  plights  you've  borne  me  through! 
And,  oh!  it  tears  my  tender  heart 
To  think  that  you  and  I  must  part. 

Once  more,  adieu! 

My  faithful  shoe! 
I  ne'er  shall  find  the  likes  o'  you, 
And  I  will  bless  your  memory 
For  all  the  good  you've  been  to  me. 

No  other  boot 

Can  ever  suit 
As  you  have  done  my  crippled  fe^! 
No  other  shoe  can  ever  be 
The  tried,  true  friend  you've  been  to  me. 

A  last  adieu, 

Dear  cast-off  shoe! 
Whatever  may  become  of  you. 
Accept,  dear,  easiest,  best  of  shoes, 
This  farewell  offering  of  my  muse. 


134  tommy's  first  speaker. 


HARRY       LOGIC. 


y  Harry  and  his  sister  Nan 
Sat  by  the  fire  one  day, 
Talking,  as  children  often  do, 
In  such  an  earnest  way. 

"Nan,  tell  me,  don't  you  really  think 

Of  all  the  folks  we  know, 
The  poorest  ones  are  best  of  all? " 

Said  Harry,  speaking  slow. 

Fair  Nannie  opened  wide  her  eyes. 

And  shook  her  curly  head ; 
"  I  never  thought  of  it  before," 

The  little  maiden  said. 

But,  don't  you  see,  it  must  be  so.? 
Just  think  of  Uncle  Lee; 
He's  very  rich,  but,  oh!  so  mean, 
And  proud  as  he  can  be. 

"  While  there  is  dear  old  Grandma  Dale, 

Who  lives  up  on  the  hill. 
To  everybody  she  is  kind, 

Although  so  poor  and  ill." 

"  Perhaps  you're  right,"  said  sister  Nan, 

"  But,  if  I  only  could, 
I'd  rather  not  be  poor  at  all — 

I'd  be  both  rich  and  good." 

"  Well,  Nan,"  exclaimed  the  little  rogue, 

"  Now  this  is  what  I  meant, 
I'm  sure  I  must  be  awful  good. 

For  I'm  not  worth  a  cent." 

.  L.  L.  Phelps. 


tommy's    FlitM     sl'EAKliR.  135 


LITTLE  THINGS. 

Little  ills  may  vex  your  heart, 

Little  crosses  ruffle  you; 
Little  pricks  may  cause  a  smart, 

Little  cares  may  trouble  you. 
Do  not  let  them  weigh  your  spirit, 
Bear  them  bravely — that's  the  merit; 
Think  of  what  the  old  folks  say, 
"  Merry  hearts  go  all  the  day." 

Life  is  full  of  work  and  hope, 

Many  duties  fall  to  you; 
If,  then,  small  cares  make  you  mope, 

How  can  small  goods  brighten  you? 
Throw  them  off — they  burden  lightness; 
Tread  them  down — they  dim  your  brightness; 
Think  of  what  the  old  folks  say, 
"  Sad  hearts  tire  a  mile  away." 


GATHERING   FLOWERS. 

Two  children  on  their  way  from  school 

Are  gathering  flowers  fair; 
So  fair,  so  fresh,  so  sweet,  so  gay. 

And  yet  they  aie  not  rare. 

They  are  but  flowers  growing  wild 

Upon  the  common  round, 
Yet  wondrous  sweet  as  wild  birds'  note. 

That  free,  wild,  thrilling  sound! 

As  fresh  and  fair  and  sweet  as  they 
Are  the  children  standing  there. 

In  happy  freedom,  careless  grace: 
Whai  flowers  could  be  more  fair.? 


136  tommy's  first  speaker. 


BEAUTIFUL  THINGS. 

Beautiful  faces  are  those  that  wear — 
It  matters  little  if  dark  or  fair — 
Whole-souled  honesty  printed  there. 

Beautiful  eyes  are  those  that  show, 

Like  crystal  panes  where  hearth-fires  glow, 

Beautiful  thoughts  that  burn  below. 

Beautiful  lips  are  those  whose  words 
Leap  from  the  heart  like  song  of  birds, 
Yet  whose  utterance  prudence  girds. 

Beautiful  hands  are  those  that  do 

Work  that  is  earnest,  and  brave,  and  true. 

Moment  by  moment,  the  long  day  through. 

Beautiful  feet  are  those  that  go 
On  kindly  ministries  to  and  fro — 
Down  lowliest  ways  if  God  wills  it  so. 

Beautiful  shoulders  are  those  that  bear 
Ceaseless  burdens  of  homely  care 
With  patient  grace  and  daily  prayer. 

Beautiful  lives  are  those  that  bless — 

Silent  rivers  of  happiness, 

Whose  hidden  fountains  few  may  guess. 


EASTER  GREETING. 

May  the  glad  dawn 
Of  Easter  morn 
Bring  holy  joy  to  thee! 

May  the  calm  eve 

Of  Easter  leave 

A  peace  divine  with  thee!  , 


137 


May  Easter  day 

To  thine  heart  say, 

"  Christ  died  and  rose  for  thee!" 

May  Easter  night 

On  thine  heart  write, 

«0  Christ,  I  live  to  Thee!" 


MORNING. 

Let's  up  and  be  doing, 

The  morning  is  bright, 
We  hail  it  with  rapture. 

With  sweetest  delight. 

The  east  is  all  dazzling 

With  azure  and  gold, 
The  roses  are  fragrant, 

And  sweet  to  behold. 

The  sunlight  is  playing 

On  tree-top  and  hill. 
And  dew-drops  are  shining 

Beside  the  dark  rill. 

The  birds  carol  sweetly 

To  hail  the  new  spring, 
And  "  May-day  is  coming," 

The  school-children  sing. 

How  bright  is  the  morning, 

How  golden  its  hours! 
All  nature  is  glowing 

With  sunshine  and  flowers. 

Let's  up  and  be  doing, 
'    The  dark  night  is  past. 
Cast  bread  on  the  waters. 
'Twill  come  back  at  last. 

Lucy  S.  Ruggles. 


138 


WASHING  DISHES. 

Let  boys  have  all  the  sport  tliey  will, 

111  running^  walking,  riding — 
The  girls  a  surer  pleasure  have. 

And  one  that^s  more  abiding. 
The  boys  may  hunt,  and  fly  their  kites. 

Or  tiy  all  clay  for  fishes; 
But,  oh!  there's  nothing  in  the  world 

So  nice  as  washing  dishes. 

There's  much  to  see  and  talk  about 

Within  this  world  of  ours; 
There's  much  to  love  and  to  admire 

In  poetry  and  flowers; 
But  there  cannot  be  a  girl  found 

Who  asks,  or  hopes,  or  wishes 
For  any  better  pleasure  than 

The  fun  of  washing  dishes. 

Carrie  E.  Ellis. 


"IT  RAINS." 


"  It  rains!  it  rains!  oh  dear!  oh  dear! 

Why  does  it  rain  to-day? 
For  now  I  cannot  go  to  see 

Dear  little  Ellen  Gray. 

"  It  seems  to  me  it  always  rains 

When  I  would  see  a  friend!    • 
The  clouds  are  very  dense  and  black — 

I  wish  the  day  would  end. 

"  It  is  too  bad!  I  stay  at  home 

Till  I  am  weary  quite! 
Oh!  do  you  think  'twill  clear  away — 

The  skies  again  be  bright?" 

Lucy  S.  Ruggles. 


tommy's    first    Sl'EAKER.  139 


THE  BREEZES. 

Suppose  the  little  breezes, 

Upon  a  summer's  day, 
Should  think  themselves  too  small  to  cool 

The  traveler  on  his  way; 
Who  would  not  miss  the  smallest 

And  softest  ones  that  blow, 
And  think  they  made  a  great  mistake 

If  they  were  talking  so! 

How  many  deeds  of  kindness 

A  little  child  may  do. 
Although  it  has  so  little  strength. 

And  little  wisdom,  too. 
It  wants  a  loving  spirit. 

Much  more  than  strength,  to  prove 
How  many  things  a  child  may  do 

For  others  by  its  love! 

Lucy  Lakcom. 


A  BOY'S  DREAM. 

Nine  grenadiers  with  bayonets  on  their  guns; 
Nine  bakers'  baskets  with  hot  cross  buns; 
Nine  brown  elephants  standing  in  a  row; 
Nine  new  velocipedes — good  ones  to  go; 
Nine  Knickerbocker  suits  with  buttons  all  complete; 
Nine  pairs  of  skates  with  straps  for  the  feet; 
Nine  little  drummer  boys  beating  on  their  drums; 
Nine  fat  Aldermen  sitting  on  their  thumbs; 
Nine  times  running — I  dreamt  it  all  plain. 
With  bread  and  cheese  for  supper   I  could  dream   it  all 
again. 

LiLLiPUT  Levee. 


140  tommy's  first  speaker. 


TWENTY  FROGS  AT  SCHOOL. 

Twenty  froggies  went  to  school, 
Down  beside  a  rushy  pool ; 
Twenty  little  coats  of  green 
Twenty  vests  all  white  and  clean. 
"  We  must  be  in  time,"  said  they ; 
"  First  we  study  then  we  play  • 
That  is  how  we  keep  the  rule 
When  we  froggies  go  to  school." 

Master  bullfrog,  grave  and  stern, 

Called  the  classes  in  their  turn; 

Taught  them  how  to  nobly  strive 

Likewise  how  to  leap  and  dive; 

From  his  seat  upon  the  log 

Showed  them  how  to  say  "Ker-chog!" 

Also,  how  to  dodge  a  blow 

From  the  sticks  which  bad  boys  throw. 

Twenty  froggies  grew  up  fast; 
Bullfrogs  they  became  at  last; 
Not  one  dunce  among  the  lot, 
Not  one  lesson  they  forgot. 
Polished  in  a  high  degree, 
As  each  froggie  ought  to  be, 
Now  they  sit  on  other  logs. 
Teaching  other  little  frogs. 


SPEAK    GENTLY. 

Speak  gently!  it  is  better  far 

To  rule  by  love  than  fear; 
Speak  gently !  let  no  harsh  words  mar 

The  good  we  might  do  here. 

Speak  gently!  'tis  a  little  thing 
Dropped  in  the  heart's  deep  well; 

The  good,  the  joy,  which  it  may  bring, 
Eternity  shall  tell. 

G.  W.  Hangford. 


tommy's  first  speaker.  141 


BABY  SISTER. 

I've  a  baby  sister, 

A  wee  thing  and  simple; 
There's  a  dint  in  her  cheek, 

They  call  it  a  dimple. 

She  has  a  little  hand, 

Doubled  up  in  a  fist. 
And  a  red,  rosy  mouth. 

Sweet  enough  to  be  kissed. 

Her  face,  like  an  apple 

That  is  well  baked  and  sweet, 

Looks  soft,  red  and  wrinkled, 
So  do  her  tiny  feet. 

Mamma  says  I  must  love 

This  queer  little  stranger, 
And  when  she  runs  about 

Keep  her  out  of  danger. 

I  don't  need  a  sister! 

vShe's  only  in  the  way; 
So  don't  bring  another 

Here,  good  doctor,  I  pray ! 

Lucy  S.  Ruggles. 


THE  BUSY  BEE. 

"Busy  bee!  busy  bee! 

Where  is  your  home?" 
"  In  truth,  pretty  maiden, 

I  live  in  a  comb." 

"And  you,  little  rabbit. 
Where  do  you  rush?" 

"  I  rush  to  my  home,  dear. 
Under  the  brush ! " 


142  tommy's  first  speaker. 

THE  LITTLE  GIRL  WHO  WOULDN'T  EAT 
CRUSTS. 

The  awfulest  times  that  ever  could  be 
They  had  with  a  bad  little  girl  of  Dundee, 
Who  never  would  finish  her  crust. 

In  vain  they  besought  her, 
And  patiently  taught  her 
And  told  her  she  must. 
Her  grandma  would  coax, 
And  so  would  the  folks, 
A.nd  tell  her  the  sinning 
Of  such  a  beginning. 
But  no,  she  wouldn't. 
She  couldn't,  she  shouldn't. 
She'd  have  them  to  know — 
So  they  might  as  well  go. 

And  what  do  you  think  came  soon  to  pass? 
This  little  girl  of  Dundee,  alas! 
Who  wouldn't  take  crusts  in  the  regular  way, 
Sat  down  to  a  feast  one  summer's  day; 
And  what  did  the  people  that  little  girl  give.^ 
Why,  a  dish  of  bread  pudding — as  sure  as  I  live  I 

Mary  Mapes  Dodge. 


A  LITTLE  GIRL'S  QUESTIONS. 

What  is  the  use  of  these  tiny  hands? 
To  clasp  my  mother  with  loving  bands. 

What  is  the  use  of  these  restless  toes? 
To  keep  me  following  where  she  goes. 

What  is  the  use  of  this  mouth,  I  pray? 
Only  for  kissing,  so  sweet,  each  day. 

What  is  the  use  of  this  pretty  hair? 

Why,  the  sunbeams  love  to  hide  them  there. 


SPEAKER.  143 


UP  AND  DOING. 

Let's  up  and  be  doing, 

That  twilight  may  come 
And  find  us  all  ready — 

We'll  joyful  go  home. 

Let's  up  and  be  doing, 

The  dark  night  is  near, 
The  sunlight  will  vanish, 

Death's  river  appear. 

Let's  up  and  be  doing, 

Ere  light  fades  away; 
The  dark  night  is  coming. 

Oh,  work  while  there's  day. 

Let's  up  and  be  doing, 

That  when  the  night's  past. 

On  Jesus'  arm  leaning. 
We  waken  at  last. 

The  sunlight  is  gleaming 

In  mansions  above. 
The  home  of  our  dear  ones. 

And  God  who  is  love. 

Lucy  S.  Ruggles 


MY  WEEK. 


On  Monday  T  wash  my  dollie's  clothes, 
On  Tuesday  smoothly  press  'em ; 

On  Wednesday  mend  their  little  hose. 
On  Thursday  neatly  dress  'em. 

On  Friday  I  play  they're  taken  ill, 
On  Saturday  something  or  other, 

But  when  Sunday  comes,  I  say,  "Lie  still; 
I'm  going  to  church  with  mother." 


144  tommy's  first  speaker. 


A  BIT  OF  POTTERY. 


The  potter  stood  at  his  daily  work, 

One  patient  foot  on  the  ground; 
The  other  with  never-slacking  speed, 

Turning  his  swift  wheel  round. 
Silent  we  stood  beside  him  there, 

Watching  the  restless  knee. 
Till  my  friend  said  low,  in  pitying  voice, 

'  How  tired  his  foot  must  be !" 

The  potter  never  paused  in  his  work. 

Shaping  the  wondrous  thing; 
'Twas  only  a  common  flower-pot. 

But  perfect  in  fashioning. 
Slowly  he  raised  his  patient  eyes. 

With  homely  truth  inspired: 
"  No,  marm,  it  isn't  the  foot  that  kicks — 

The  one  that  stands  gets  tired." 


YE  CHILDREN,  BE  GAY. 

Ye  children,  be  gay. 

Enjoy  innocent  fun; 
'Tis  right  you  should  play 

When  your  life's  just  begun. 

But  you  should  be  kind, 

And  your  parents  obey; 
If  them  you  do  mind. 

You  will  not  go  astray. 

Be  good  while  you  may, 

'Tis  a  message  from  Heaven; 
Do  good  day  by  day, 

A  commandment  that's  given. 

Lucy  S.  Ruggles, 


tommy's   first  speaker.  145 


DO  YOUR  BEST. 


A  gentleman  once  said  to  a  physician:  "I  think  that  at 
night  you  would  feel  so  worried  over  the  work  of  the  day 
that  you  would  not  he  able  to  sleep." 

"  My  head  hardly  touches  the  pillow  till  I  fall  asleep," 
replied  the  physician.  "I  made  up  my  mind,"  he  contin- 
ued, "at  the  commencement  of  my  professional  career  to 
do  my  best  under  all  circumstances,  and  so  doing  I  am  not 
troubled  with  any  misgivings." 

A  good  rule  for  us  to  follow.  Too  many  are  disposed 
to  say,  "No  matter  how  I  do  this  work  now;  next  time 
I'll  do  better."  The  practice  is  as  bad  as  the  reasoning. 
"No  matter  how  I  learn  this  lesson  in  the  lower  class* 
when  I  get  into  a  higher  department  then  I'll  study."  As 
well  might  the  mother  in  knitting  stockings,  say,  "No  mat- 
ter how  the  tip  is  done;  even  if  I  do  drop  a  stitch  now  and 
then,  I'll  do  better  when  I  get  further  along."  What  kind 
of  a  stocking  would  that  be? 

As  well  might  the  builder  say,  "  I  don't  care  how  I 
make  the  foundation  of  this  house;  anything  will  do  here; 
wait  till  I  get  to  the  top,  then  I'll  do  good  work." 

Said  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds  once  to  Doctor  Samuel  John- 
son: "Pray  tell  me,  sir,  by  what  means  have  you  attained 
such  extraordinary  accuracy  and  flow  of  language  in  the 
expression  of  your  ideas?" 

"  I  laid  it  down  as  a  fixed  rule,"  replied  the  doctor,  "  to 
do  my  best  on  every  occasion,  and  in  every  company,  to 
impart  what  I  know  in  the  most  forcible  language  I  can 
put  it." 


DOING  NOTHING. 

Worthless,  wicked  boys  I've  seen 

Doing  nothing; 
And  they  grew  up  worthless  men, 

Doinjj  nothing:; 
Life  to  them  a  failure  proved, 
As  they  spent  it,  all  unloved, 

Doing  nothing. 


146 


OLD  SPECKLED  HEN. 

Have  you  e'er  seen  iny  speckled  hen, 

That  stole  into  a  keg, 
And  after,  cackled  long  and  loud, 

Because  she  laid  an  egg? 

This  dear  old  cackling,  speckled  hen, 

Was  quiet  in  her  way, 
And  wisely  cackled  only  when 

She  laid  an  egg  each  day. 

But  soon  she  fluttered  in  and  out, 

Her  feathers  all  awry ; 
I  wondered  what  'twas  all  about. 

And  thought  she  sure  would  die. 

Now  she  would  cluck  and  strut  as  fine 

As  any  king  or  queen. 
When  she  came  off  her  nest  to  dine, 

Or  getting  drink  was  seen. 

But  silently  she  kept  her  house. 

And  lay  upon  her  bed. 
As  quiet  as  a  churchyard  mouse. 

And  never  raised  her  head. 

And  when  three  weeks  had  rolled  around, 

A  chirping  sound  I  heard. 
And,  looking  in  the  old  keg,  there 

1  saw  a  yellow  bird ! 

It's  little  eyes  were  black  and  bright. 

It  cuddled  in  the  nest; 
And  on  its  head  were  spots  of  brown, — 

In  softest  down  'twas  dressed. 

Chirp!  chirp!  I  searched  and  saw  some  more, 

The  old  hen  looked  knowing; 
I  counted  them,  one!  two!  three!  four! 

The  cockerel  was  crowing! 


tommy's  first   speaker.  147 


The  hen  flew  out  with  cluck  and  clack, 

Her  ten  chicks  followed  slow ; 
The  chicks  were  bright,  the  hen  was  j^roud 

As  any  hen  I  know. 

Lucy  S.  Ruggles. 


LITTLE  FOXES. 

Among  my  tender  vines  I  spy, 
A  little  fox  named  "  By-and-By." 

Then  set  upon  him,  quick,  I  say, 

The  swift  young  hunter  "  Right  Away." 

Around  each  tender  vine  I  plant, 
I  find  the  little  fox  "  I  Can't!" 

Then  fast  as  ever  hunter  ran. 

Chase  him  with  brave  and  bold  "  1  Can." 

"No  Use  in  Trying!"  lags  and  whines 
This  fox  among  my  tender  vines. 

Then  drive  him  low  and  drive  him  high. 
With  this  good  hunter  named  "  I'll  Try." 

Among  the  vines  in  my  small  lot, 
Creeps  in  the  young  fox  "  I  Forgot." 

Then  hunt  him  out  and  to  his  den, 
Wi'th  "  I-Will-Not-Forget-Again." 

A  little  fox  is  hidden  there 

Among  my  vines,  named  "  I  Don't  Care." 

Then  let  "  I'm  Sorry,"  hunter  true, 
Chase  him  far  from  vines  and  you. 


148  tommy's  first  speaker. 


HOW  TO  DEAL  WITH  NEW-LAID  EGGS. 

[The  little  girl  who  recites  this  should  have  a  basket  of  egg^s  in  her  hand.] 

Be  gentle  to  the  new-laid  egg, 

For  eggs  are  brittle  things; 
They  cannot  fly  until  they're  hatched 

And  have  a  pair  of  wings. 
If  once  you  break  the  tender  shell 

The  wrong  you  can't  redress, 
The  yelk  and  white  will  all  run  out 

And  make  a  dreadful  "  mess." 

'Tis  but  a  little  while  at  best 

That  hens  have  power  to  lay ; 
To-morrow  eggs  may  addled  be 

That  were  quite  fresh  to  day. 
Oh,  let  the  touch,  my  friends  be  light 

That  takes  them  from  the  keg, 
There  is  no  hand  whose  cunning  skill 

Can  mend  a  broken  egg ! 


SUNBEAMS. 


Merry  little  sunbeams. 
Flitting  here  and  there; 

Joyous  little  sunbeams, 

Dancing  everywhere. 
Come  they  with  the  morning  light, 
And  chase  away  the  gloomy  night. 

Kind  words  are  little  sunbeams, 

That  sparkle  as  they  fall ; 
And  loving  smiles  are  sunbeams, 
A  light  of  joy  for  all. 
In  sorrow's  eye  they  dry  the  tear, 
And  bring  the  fainting  heart  good  cheer. 


tommy's  first  speaker.  149 


THE  MINUTES. 

We  are  but  minutes — little  things! 
Each  one  furnished  with  sixty  wings, 
With  which  we  fly  on  our  unseen  track, 
And  not  a  minute  ever  comes  back. 

We  are  but  minutes,  yet  each  one  bears 
A  little  burden  of  joy  or  cares; 
Take  patiently  the  minutes  of  pain — 
The  worst  of  minutes  cannot  remain. 

We  are  but  minutes,  when  we  bring 
A  few  of  the  drops  from  pleasure's  spring, 
Taste  their  sweetness  while  yet  we  stray. 
It  takes  but  a  minute  to  fly  away. 

We  are  but  minutes — use  us  well. 
For  how  we  are  used  we  must  some  day  tell. 
Who  uses  minutes,  has  hours  to  use; 
Who  loses  minutes,  whole  years  must  lose. 


ONE  BY  ONE. 


One  by  one  the  sands  are  flowing; 

One  by  one  the  moments  fall; 
Some  are  coming,  some  are  going — 

Do  not  strive  to  grasp  them  all. 

One  by  one  thy  duties  wait  thee; 

Let  thy  whole  strength  go  to  each ; 
Let  no  future  dreams  elate  thee, 

Learn  thou  first  what  these  can  teach. 

Adelaide  A.  Proctor. 


150  tommy's  first  speaker. 


THE  BEE  AND  THE  BUTTERFLY. 

"  Dear  me,  dear  me," 
Said  a  busy  bee; 

"  I'm  always  making  honey. 
No  time  to  play 
But  work  all  day; 

Isn't  it  very  funny, 

Very,  very  funny? " 

"Oh,  my,  oh,  my," 
Said  a  butterfly, 

"  I'm  alwaj^s  eating  honey. 
And  yet  I  play 
The  livelong  day. 

Isn't  it  very  funny. 

Very,  very  funny  ? " 


THE  WAKEFUL  BIRDS. 

The  little  birds  are  wide  awake, 

So  early  in  the  morn; 
Just  think  how  funny  it  would  be 

To  see  the  robins  yawn! 

To  hear  the  little  sparrow  say, 
'^Oh  dear!  't  is  hardly  light! 

Mamma,  I  want  to  sleep  some  more,"- 
'T  would  make  you  laugh  outright. 

They  hop  out  of  their  little  nest, 

So  cosy  and  so  warm. 
And  sing  their  merry  morning  song 

In  sunshine  and  in  storm. 


tommy's  firs'i    <!m:aki:k.  151 


THE  TOAD. 

Pvc  heard  a  song  about  the  frogs, 

And  bees  with  pretty  wings, 
And  what  a  very  pleasant  note 

The  little  robin  sings. 

But  oh!  no  poet  ever  yet 

Has  greatly  praised  the  toad, 
Oft  seated  on  his  haunches, 

A-winking  in  the  road! 

He's  neither  tall  nor  stately, 

And  he  looks  very  old ; 
His  skin  all  wrinkled,  tough  and  brown — 

It  keeps  out  wet  and  cold. 

He's  very  strange,  ugly  and  coarse. 

And  surely  very  odd; 
He  sets  all  the  children  laughing 

When  he  leaps  o'er  the  sod. 

But  the  old  toad  is  quite  friendly, 

And  he  seems  very  wise. 
Coming  out  from  the  old  door-stone 

To  catch  the  little  flies. 

Lucy  S.  Ruggles. 


"YOURS  TRULY,  SIR." 

A  rich  old  bachelor  once  asked 

A  lady  fair  to  see, 
"  If  you  were  not  yourself,  dear  Miss, 

Who  would  you  rather  be?" 
Beneath  his  earnest  gaze  she  dropp'd 

Her  lovely  eyes  and  sighed, — 
"I'd  rather  be  yours  truly,  sir!" 

She  blushingly  replied. 


152  tommy's  first  speaker. 


SIX  LITTLE  WORDS. 


Six  little  words  arrest  me  every  clay: 

I  ought,  must,  can — I  will,  I  dare,  1  may. 

I  ought — 'tis  conscience'  law,  divinely  writ 

Within  my  heart,  the  goal  I  strive  to  hit. 

I  must — this  warns  me  that  my  way  is  barred, 

Either  by  nature's  law  or  custom  hard. 

I  can — in  this  is  summed  up  all  my  might, 

Whether  to  do  or  know  or  judge  aright. 

I  will — my  diadem,  by  the  soul  impressed 

With  freedom's  seal,  the  ruler  in  my  breast. 

I  dare — at  once  a  motto  for  the  seal. 

And,  Dare  I?  barrier  'gainst  unlicensed  zeal. 

I  may — is  final,  and  at  once  makes  clear 

The  way  which  else  might  vague  and  dim  appear 

I  ought,  must,  can — I  will,  I  dare,  I  may; 

These  six  words  claim  attention  every  day, 

Only  through  thee  know  I  that,  every  day, 

I  ought,  I  must,  I  can,  I  will,  I  dare,  I  may. 


THE  THREE  BEST  DOCTORS. 

The  best  of  all  the  pill-box  crew. 

Since  ever  time  began. 
Are  the  doctors  who  have  most  to  do 

With  the  health  of  a  hearty  man. 

And  so  I  count  them  up  again, 

And  praise  them  as  I  can ; 
There's  Dr.  Diet,  and  Dr.  Quiet, 

And  Dr.  Merryman. 

There's  Dr.  Diet,  he  tries  my  tongue, 

"I  know  you  well,"  says  he; 
''Your  stomach  is  poor,  and  your  liver  is  sprung, 

We  must  make  your  food  agiee." 


N 


tommy's  first   speaker.  153 

And  Dr.  Quiet,  he  feels  my  wrist, 

And  he  gravely  shakes  his  head, 
"  Now,  now,  dear  sir,  I  must  insist 

That  you  go  at  ten  to  bed/' 

But  Dr.  Merryman  for  me. 

Of  all  the  pill-box  crew ! 
For  he  smiles  and  says,  as  he  fobs  his  fee, 

"  Laugh  on,  whatever  you  do!" 

So  now  I  eat  what  I  ought  to  eat, 

And  at  ten  I  go  to  bed. 
And  I  laugh  in  the  face  of  cold  or  heat; 

For  thus  have  the  doctors  said! 

And  so  I  count  them  up  again, 

And  praise  them  as  I  can ; 
There's  Dr.  Diet,  and  Dr.  Quiet, 

And  Dr.  Merryman. 


WHAT  THE  WINDS   BRING. 

Which  is  the  wind  that  brings  the  cold? 

The  north  wind,  Freddy,  and  all  the  snow — 
And  the  sheep  will  scamper  into  the  fold, 

When  the  north  begins  to  blow. 

Which  is  the  wind  that  brings  the  heat? 

The  south  wind,  Katy;  and  corn  will  grow 
And  peaches  redden  for  you  to  eat. 

When  the  south  begins  to  blow. 

Which  is  the  wind  that  brings  the  rain  ? 

The  cast  wind,  Arty;  and  farmers  know 
That  cows  come  shivering  up  the  lane 

When  the  east  begins  to  blow. 

Which  is  the  wind  that  brings  the  flowers? 

The  west  wind,  Bessy;    and  soft  and  low 
The  birdies  sing  in  the  summer  hours 

When  the  west  begins  to  blow. 

Edmund  Clarence  Stedman. 


154  tommy's  first  speakkr. 


MOTHERS,  WATCH  THE  LITTLE    FEET. 

Patter,  patter  all  day  long, 
What  an  eager,  restless  throng; 
Out  among  the  birds  and  bees, 
Out  among  the  flowers  and  trees; 
In  among  the  toys  and  books. 
With  merry  smiles  and  sunny  looks; 
Hither,  yon  and  everywhere — 
Who  shall  guide  each  busy  pair? 

Who  shall  curb  the  sports  and  plays, 
Teach  the  laddies  gentle  ways. 
Help  them  as  with  noble  will 
On  they  strive  up  learning's  hill  ? 
Teach  them  their  brave  strength  to  share, 
For  the  weak,  the  old,  to  care; 
Lead  them  till  in  turn  they  stand 
Leaders  in  a  royal  band? 

Who  shall  on  the  lassies  wait. 
Knocking  at  youth's  morning  gate? 
Guide  their  hands  in  deeds  of  love. 
Keep  their  hearts  all  wrong  above; 
Teach  them  kindly  words  and  ways, 
How  to  help  and  when  to  praise; 
Guide  them  till  they  make  of  home 
The  brightest  spot  'neath  Heaven's  dome? 

Mothers,  who  could  wish  or  ask 
E'er  a  sweeter,  holier  task? 
Yours  it  is  to  guide  youth's  feet 
Through  life's  meadows  pure  and  sweet; 
Yours  to  make  fair,  bright  and  good. 
Gentle,  tender  womanhood. 
And  remember,  while  you  plan. 
As  the  boy  so  is  the  man. 


TOMMY  S     FIRST    SPEAKER.  155 


Mothers,  lest  their  feet  may  stray, 
Walk  beside  them  while  you  may. 
Sports  and  plays  are  wiser  far 
Under  love's  pure  guiding  star. 
Books  will  sweeter  meaning  take 
When  they're  read  "For  mother's  sake!" 
Hither,  yon  and  everywhere, 
Mothers,  watch  with  prayerful  care. 


CLEANLINESS. 


Wash  your  hands,  and  wash  your  face. 

And  keep  them  very  clean; 
For  dirty  hands  and  dirty  face 

At  home,  abroad,  should  ne'er  be  seen. 

Rub  and  scrub  your  hands  and  face 

Great  many  times  each  day; 
For  if  you  don't  your  rosy  cheeks 

And  health  will  fade  away. 


PAl  VERY  YOUNG. 

I'm  very  young!  but  what  of  that? 

You  once  were  young  as  I; 
Aud  you  don't  know  what  I  can  do 

Until  you  see  me  tr}'. 

I  cannot  tell  you  all  I  know — 

I  guess  I  won't  tell  half; 
For  if  I  should  I'm  very  sure 

You'd  only  sit  and  laugh. 


156 


I'LL  PUT  IT  OFF. 

Some  little  folks  are  apt  to  say, 
When  asked  their  task  to  touch, 

"  rU  put  it  off,  at  least  to-day, 
It  cannot  matter  much." 

Time  is  always  on  the  wing, 
You  cannot  stop  its  flight; 

Then  do  at  once  your  little  task, 
You'll  happier  be  at  night. 

For  little  duties  still  put  off, 
Will  end  in  "  never  done," 

And  "  By-and-by  is  time  enough," 
Has  ruined  many  a  one. 


ONLY  A  BABY. 

Only  a  baby,  'thout  any  hair, 

'Cept  just  a  little  fuzz  here  and  there. 

Only  a  baby — name  you  have  none. 
Barefooted,  dimpled,  sweet  little  one. 

Only  a  baby — teeth  none  at  all ; 
What  are  you  good  for  only  to  squall? 

Only  a  baby,  just  a  week  old ; 

What  are  you  here  for?     That's  to  be  told. 


THE  SPIDER. 


Behold  the  spider  in  his  cell! 

How  cunningly  he  weaves! 
He  sometimes  makes  his  silky  nest 

Close  in  among  the  leaves. 


tommy's  first   speaker.  157 


Sometimes  he  spreads  his  airy  tent 

Upon  the  velvet  grass, 
Where  throii<;h  a  pretty  central  door 

He  in  and  out  can  pass. 

And  there  he  sits  and  catches  flies 

Which  venture  oft  too  nij^h — 
The  flies  for  him  are  dainty  meat, 

He  loves  to  see  them  die. 

Lucy  S.  Ruggles. 


THE  RISING,  WATCHING  MOON. 

Ah,  the  moon  is  watching  me! 
Red,  and  round  as  round  can  he, 
Over  the  hou'^e  and  the  top  of  the  tree 
Rising  slowly.      We  shall  see 
Something  happen  very  soon; — 
Hide  me  from  the  dreadful  moon! 

Slowly,  surely,  rising  higher. 

Soon  she  will  be  as  high  as  the  spire! 

It  seems  as  if  something  must  happen  then 

To  all  the  world  and  all  the  men ! 

Oh,  I  dare  not  think,  for  I  am  not  wise — 

I  must  look  away,  I  must  shut  my  eyes! 


THE  LITTLE  DREAMER. 

A  little  boy  was  dreaming, 

Upon  his  mother's  lap, 
That  the  pins  fell  out  of  all  the  stars, 

And  the  stars  fell  in  his  cap! 

So,  when  his  dream  was  over. 
What  should  this  little  boy  do? 

Why,  he  went  and  looked  inside  his  cap, 
And  found  it  wasn't  true! 


158  tommy's  first  speaker. 


LITTLE  BARE  FEET. 

Dear  little  bare  feet, 

Dimpled  and  white, 
In  your  lon^^  night-gown 

Wrapped  for  the  night; 
Come  let  me  count 

All  your  queer  little  toes, 
Pink  as  the  heart 

Of  a  shell  or  a  rose. 

One  is  a  lady. 

That  sits  in  the  sun; 
Two  is  a  baby, 

And  three  is  a  nun; 
Four  is  a  lily, 

With  innocent  breast; 
And  five  is  a  birdie. 

Asleep  in  her  nest! 


MAMMA'S  KISSES. 

A  kiss  when  I  wake  in  the  morning, 

A  kiss  when  I  go  to  bed, 
A  kiss  when  I  burn  my  fingers, 

A  kiss  when  I  bump  my  head. 

A  kiss  when  my  bath  is  over, 
A  kiss  when  my  bath  begins; 

My  mamma  is  full  of  kisses. 
As  full  as    nurse  is  of  pins. 

A  kiss  when  I  give  her  trouble, 
A  kiss  when  I  give  her  joy; 

There's  nothing  like  mamma's  kisses 
To  her  own  little  baby  boy ! 


159 


A  CONCERT  GIVEN  BY  MR.  SPRING. 

A  concert  once  by  Mr.  Spring 

Was  given  in  the  wood; 
He  begged  both  old  and  young  to  come, 

And  all  to  sing  who  could. 
Miss  Lark,  the  music  to  begin, 

Her  favorite  ballad  sang, 
A  well-known  air,  and  liked  by  all, 

So  clear  her  sweet  voice  rang. 

And  next  a  gentleman  appeared, 

Come  lately  from  abroad. 
His  song  was  short,  but  much  admired, 

And  so  it  was  encored. 
He  said  that  Cuckoo  was  his  name. 

His  style  was  quite  his  own; 
He  sang  most  kindly  while  he  stayed, 

But  all  too  soon  was  gone. 

The  Finches  then  were  asked  to  sing; 

Would  they  get  up  a  glee 
With  Mr.  Linnet  and  his  wife. 

Who  sing  so  prettily? 
And  in  the  chorus  many  more 

No  doubt  would  take  a  part; 
Young  Blackcap  has  a  splendid  voice. 

And  sings  with  all  his  heart. 

Now  came  the  much  expected  guest. 
Young  Lady  Nightingale, 

So  late  that  everybody  feared 
She  really  meant  to  fail. 

At  first  she  said  she  could  not  sing- 
She  was  afraid  to  try; 

But  then  she  sang,  and  all  the  air 
Was  filled  with  melody. 


160 


THE    LITTLE    COWSLIP. 

Suppose  the  little  cowslip 

Should  hang  its  golden  cup 
And  say,  "  I'm  such  a  tiny  flower 

I'd  better  not  grow  up;" 
How  many  a  weary  traveler 

Would  miss  its  fragrant  smell; 
How  many  a  little  child  would  grieve 

To  lose  it  from  the  dell! 

Suppose  the  glistening  dew-drops 

Upon  the  grass  should  say, 
"  What  can  a  little  dew-drop  do? 

I'd  better  roll  away;" 
The  blade  on  which  it  rested, 

Before  the  day  was  done, 
Without  a  drop  to  moisten  it, 

Would  wither  in  the  sun. 


THROWING  KISSES. 

Don't  think,  dear  friends,  that  I'm  too  small 

To  fill  a  place  like  this; 
I'm  big  enough  to  love  you  all, 

And  throw  you  all  a  kiss. 

A  little  word,  a  look,  a  smile, 

Will  never  come  amiss; 
Takes  but  a  moment,  as  you  see, 

To  throw  you  all  a  kiss. 

It  may  be  that  you  have  at  home 

Some  boy  or  little  sis. 
Who  laughs,  and  peeps,  and  when  you  go 

Throws  after  you  a  kiss. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
BERKELEY 

Return  to  desk  from  which  borrowed. 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


rtj  368V8 


M69874        f  I. 


tsm- 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  UBRARY 


THIRD  EDITION. 


THE  BEST  POULTRY  BOOK  EVER  PUBLISHED. 


Poultry  Quiture. 

HOW    TO    RAISE,    MANAGE,    MATE   AND   JUDGE 

THOROUGHBRED     FOWLS. 

B3r    I.    :BZ.    IF^EZLiCia:. 


Third  Edition  with  Supplemental  Chapter  on  the  Preparation  of  Poultry  for  Exhibition. 


Every  poultry  raiser  should  have  this  book.    It  contains  the  ripest  results  of  thirty  years' 

experience  and  observation.    What  this  book  does  not  tell  about  the  culture  of  Ch  ickens, 

Turkeys.  Ducks  and  Geese,  is  not  worth  knowing.     The  only  recognized  authority 

on  Mating  and  Judging  Thoroughbred  Fowls.    This  volume  contains  438  pages,  pro- 

fusolv   illustrated.  VjeautifuUy  boinid  in  cloth,  black,  silver  and  gold. 


OPINIONS   OF   THE    PRESS. 

Mr.  Pelch  has  be  en  a  well-known  and  recognized  authority  on  poultry  for  mar.y  years, 
and  ttis  book  will  add  to  his  reputation.  It  is  the  best  book  ever  published  on  the  subject 
it  treats  upon,  and  should  be  in  the  hands  of  all  who  wish  to  keep  fully  up  to  the  times  in 
poultry  ral'^mg.-./lmerica)!  Poultrij  Journal,  Chicago. 

Mr.  Felch  deals  with  the  matter-of-fact,  every-day  experience  in  the  poultry  yard  and 
in  the  show-room.  From  introduction  to  end,  every  page  of  this  book  has  some  practical 
and  useful  information  t  or  novice,  amateur  and  veteran.  We  consider  "  Poultry  Culture  " 
the  best  work  on  the  subject  ever  issued  from  the  American  press.— National  Poultry 
Mo^iiitor,  SpriiujfieM,  Ohio. 

It  details  the  pnnciples  of  mating  and  breedmp  very  carefully,  and  treats,  at  length,  of 
some  important  subjects  wisely  let  alone  by  wi-iters  of  less  knowledge.  This  work  is  more 
complete  than  any  book  of  its  class,  more  modern,  and  therefore  better  adapted  to  present 
wants,  and  offei'iiig  less  disappointments  to  the  inquirer  who  turns  its  pages  for  any  desired 
information  than  any  other  now  for  Siiiv.—Poidtru  and  Farm  Journal,  Minneapolii<,  Minn. 

It  seems  to  bo  prepared  with  a  view  to  thorough  practical  use  and  to  be  of  very  great 
value  to  all  who  engage,  whether  largely  or  only  in  a  small  way,  in  poultry  cultu)e.— C/»t- 
ca<jo  Daily  Timcx. 

Tt  is  an  ably  written  and  handsomely  issued  volume  just  arrived  from  America,  and  its 
title,  comprehensive  though  it  af>pears,  hardly  expresses  the  great  scope  of  matter  dealt 
with  by  the  author.  The  vvork  will  help  anyone  wishing  to  keep  fowls  to  do  so  in  an  eco- 
nomic "manner. -3/o>(/u(f/ Po.sf,  Lo)i(lon,  Eng. 

It  is  from  the  pen  of  one  of  the  most  successful  and  experienced  poultrymen  in  the 
country.  It  has  .10  sui)erior  in  its  class,  and  is  complete,  trustworthy,  perspicuous  and 
practical.— T7ie  Jn(k)>crident,  Ncic  York. 

The  whole  book  has  an  eminently  practical  and  sensible  tone,  and  we  think  it  will  be 
iound  a  safe  counselor.  -CuUirator  and  Oruntry  Gentleman,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

It  contains  the  life-time  experience  of  Mr.  Felch,  who  is  the  highest  authority  in  Amer- 
ica (»n  poultry  culture,  and  is  the  only  book  ever  published  that  covers  all  the  ground  in 
poultry  culture  in  a  thoroughly  practical  and  intelligible  manner.-  FarJii  and  Household, 
Dayton,  Ohio. 

The  author  has  ha<l  a  great  experience  iti  the  business,  and  what  he  here  has  to  offer  is 
reliable  and  instructive.  1 1  is  the  best  book  on  the  subject  ever  issued,  and  we  tak^'pleasure 
111  calling  the  attention  of  our  readers  to  this  valuable  work.— Fic/iV  Monthly,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

The  author  is  a  thorough  expert  in  ppultry  raising  and  a  good  man  of  business.  He 
knows  how  to  manage  fowls  and  how  to  make  money  by  doing  it,  and  he  tells  every  secret 
of  his  methods.  The  chapter  on  incubators  will  be  found  of  special  interest.— Larf/es' 
World,  New  York. 

PRICE,    $1.50. 
For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  by  mail  on  receipt  of  price  by  the  publisher, 

W.  H.  HARRISON,  Jf.,  257  State  St.,  Chicago. 


